He's thought about it a lot in recent weeks. Based on the observation that he is always efficient, but never victorious, Sébastien Loeb (50 years old) seeks to modify his approach to the most demanding rally-raid in the world.
“Over the last two editions, I won half of the specials alone, namely 12 out of 24,” he says. Carlos Sainz didn't win any in 2024, but he won! »
“At least a day of m…”
So, where is the problem? “My problem is that I have at least one day of s… which weighs me down on the rally,” notes the fifty-year-old. No matter how hard I experience “scratch” times, when you lose two hours in one stage, well, you never make up for them. »
The cost is as much at the level of the machine – punctures galore, mechanical breakdowns – as it is for the driver. “I have already rolled over (with the Peugeot for its debut in 2016), I fell into holes (in 2018 when his co-driver at the time Daniel Elena had to retire due to a cracked coccyx), we sometimes “gardened “to find the right path,” he admits.
One last step to take
Still trapped in October during the prologue to the Morocco rally – broken triangle in a crevasse – the Alsatian intends to pay “particular attention” and “put an extra degree of vigilance” for his ninth attempt. “As soon as we venture off-piste, I will immediately be careful,” he promises. Don't hesitate to lower your voice in tricky parts. Even if it doesn't look dangerous, there may be bleeding behind a ridge that you can't see. »
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Will good resolutions be enough to avoid the famous “shit day”? After three consecutive podiums – five in all – the former king of the WRC wants to take the last step, the highest for him.
How to follow the Dakar-2025?
The Dakar can be followed on the L'Équipe Channel with daily broadcasts at 11:50 a.m., 6:10 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. France TV will discuss the race in its program Tout le Sport from Monday to Saturday at 7:50 p.m. and in Stade 2 on Sunday from 8:05 p.m. to 9:05 p.m.
Finally, a 52-minute daily summary will be broadcast on Europsort 1 at 9 p.m. until January 11, then on Eurosport 2 until the finish.
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