Sébastien Loeb Racing launches its WTCC program on home turf!

Next weekend, Sébastien Loeb Racing will begin its second full season campaign in the World Touring Car Championship. Following a promising year, the Alsacian team is upping its game in the series with three Citroën C-Elysée entries compared to one last year ! Mehdi Bennani will return with the team, now joined by Tom Chilton and Grégoire Demoustier. Three drivers who have equal chances to shine for the team. The first round of championship will be on home turf : the Circuit Paul Ricard.

Sébastien Loeb : « Obviously an important meeting ! »

In 2015, the team headed by Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz had an impressive debut season : a second place in the WTCC Trophy for Mehdi Bennani with seven victories, and an overall podium finish in the season finale. The team is looking to take the next step this year with a workforce that has grown over the offseason. Mehdi, who now knows the Citroën
C-Elysée well, will no longer be the only driver representing Sébastien Loeb Racing. Tom Chilton will bring his experience of the discipline while Grégoire Demoustier will continue his rise in the series. Three different profiles of drivers, but who will have the chance to shine as Sébastien Loeb confirms : « The team had a more than convincing first season and logically we want to capitalise on what we learned in 2015. In consequence, we’ve put together the right program with more cars and drivers who complement each other. Mehdi proved himself to be quick, Tom has a wealth of knowledge in the series, and Greg has shown us some interesting potential. We know we can race for wins in the WTCC Trophy and we’ll have chances for the overall victory too. We will have to take advantage of every little opportunity we get. I hope it will be during the first round, in France. It’s obviously an important meeting ! That would mean we were headed in the right direction immediately. »

Mehdi Bennani : « Always do better ! »

Last year, for the Soultz-Sous-Forêts, France team’s debut in the World Touring Car Championship, Mehdi Bennani had an impressive rise in performance as shown by his four class victories in the last six races of the year. The Moroccan finished the season in second place for the WTCC Trophy, just four points from the winner. He also raced at the front of the grid on several occasions. All of these factors mean that team and driver can look to 2016 with a certain optimism. « I now have one season of experience with the team and the car. I feel like we’re starting with a good technical pakage. We know what to expect and how to manage a meeting in its entirety. » he explains. « We must keep working the way we have, with the same approach and the will to always do better ! I’m aiming of course for the WTCC Trophy, but also do do well in the overall standings, which is the ultimate goal. We’ve shown that we have the speed. We’re now three drivers, we get along well and the whole team has more ambition now. This will help brings us to the top. I like Paul Ricard, last year I was competitive there but I’m cautious about the addition weight to be carried this year. It won’t be easy but we will fight and go after a good performance ! »

Tom Chilton : « Can’t wait to see what I can accomplish with the C-Elysée »

At 31 years of age, Tom Chilton enters his fifth season in WTCC and his motivation is higher than ever. Having finished third in the WTCC Trophy last year, he’s thirsty for victories. The British driver has not hidden the fact that he wanted to drive the Citroën C-Elysée, and in 2016 his wish will come true.

« We had four days testing and three glorious days in the hail and rain but one key dry test day. I have learnt a lot with the car so far and it’s a fun car to drive. I have had a lot of time in the car at low temperatures, so when I turn up to Paul Ricard I will reset my brain and pretend it’s a new race car and I’m driving it for the first time. The team is very professional and the car is run very well which gives me confidence going into the new season. My goal is to focus hard with my team and my engineer and extract the most from myself and the car as we can.

« It’s important to finish both races as high up the pecking order as possible to ensure a high points score by the end of round one. I like Paul Ricard. Last year I qualified fifth, first among non-Citroëns. I simply can’t wait to see what I can accomplish with the C-Elysée, even if the 20kg extra could slow us down, especially on this track. To be in France is a special way to start the year and I’ll do my best to make everyone happy. There’s no pressure, just goals I need to try and achieve. »

Grégoire Demoustier : « Can’t wait to be on the grid! »

After discovering the World Touring Car Championship in 2015, Grégoire Demoustier returns with the aim of aiming even higher. The youngest of the trio of drivers at Sébastien Loeb Racing showed his potential, with four top 10 finishes and a podium in the Independent class. To capitalise on this potential, he will count on Mehdi and Tom’s experience, as well as the team’s know-how and the competitiveness of the Citroën C-Elysée.

« Testing went well even if we were unlucky with the weather. In the end, we had little running time on a dry track. » explains the young Frenchman of 25 years. « I’m happy to be starting the season at Paul Ricard, which I know well. It’s certainly the circuit on which I’m the most comfortable and that’s a good way to start the season. I know we will do good work together : I have an excellent team around me, which has a lot of experience in various disciplines including WTCC, competitive drivers alongside me and a car that works very well. I discovered the car, but I still need to learn more about it because it’s a bit different to drive than other cars I have known. I simply can’t wait to be on the grid ! I’m confident in the fact that I’ll be able to progress more and quicker. I haven’t fixated on a goal for this first round : it’s a meeting that will allowe me to get my bearings and I’ll know more afterwards. I’ll give it my all. »

Thanks to the driver line-up, Sébastien Loeb Racing also has high hopes when it comes to the Teams classification in WTCC Trophy. The first round of the season at Paul Ricard will be held under the watchful eyes of team boss Sébastien Loeb.