Someplace, over there, in a parallel universe, Sébastien Loeb isn’t simply a nine-time World Rally champion.
As a result of had his 2009 WRC season not turned the wrong way up, or had the FIA not denied him a brilliant license, the best rally driver of all time would have additionally been a Formulation 1 driver.
And possibly an excellent one at that.
In a profession that’s taken Loeb far past rally to rally-raid, rallycross, touring vehicles and the 24 Hours of Le Mans – he’s conquered all of it. However F1 will all the time be the agonizing itch he tried to scratch however finally by no means may.
Fifteen years in the past this yr, the dream died nearly as quickly because it was born. That is the story of Loeb’s temporary dalliance with Formulation 1, together with his personal recollections from at this time.
The primary check with Renault
Loeb had way more urgent issues to concern himself with than a Formulation 1 check in late 2007.
Heading into the penultimate spherical of the season in Eire, the then triple world champion trailed Ford’s Marcus Grönholm by 4 factors in a season that was taking place to the wire.
However simply days earlier than Loeb launched his Citroën C4 WRC into the Irish lanes, it was introduced that ‘Le Maestro’ would get the prospect to drive a Renault Formulation 1 automotive via Citroën’s sponsor Whole, which was a part of the identical group as Elf that partnered the Renault F1 group.
Loeb did have circuit racing pedigree at this stage, having entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice with Pescarolo Sport – ending a standout second total in 2006. However he was fast to emphasize that there was nothing to be learn into the check that was collaborating in purely for “pleasure”.
