World champion Loeb will still play a key role for Citroen in 2013

Citroen’s technical chief Xavier Mestelan-Pinon says Sebastien Loeb will be just a phone call away should the squad need to count on the nine time world champion’s vast experience next season.

Loeb is unlikely to contest more than five rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship in 2013 but Mestelan-Pinon insists the French legend will still perform a key role for Citroen.

“Sebastien is still a Citroen driver next year and his experience is very important so of course I will call him [for advice on events] and I hope he can help,” said the design guru.

However, Mestelan-Pinon accepts Loeb’s influence will be diminished slightly due to new regulations restricting manufacturer teams to 42 days of testing next season.

“We didn’t finalise testing [days] with him yet,” confirmed Mestelan-Pinon. “If Mikko [Hirvonen] and [Dani Sordo], are to make the best job, they will need to drive the car as often as possible. With Sebastien it will be difficult [to test] except for the rallies he will do, like Monte Carlo, so I don’t expect him to make a lot of tests.”