Loeb joined fellow WRC champion Carlos Sainz on the early flight again residence, after the latter’s M-Sport Ford Raptor additionally failed an FIA security inspection. Sainz’s personal withdrawal got here a day after his compatriot Laia Sanz was compelled out as a result of a 2mm distortion of the rollcage.
Loeb believes that the staff had been capable of sufficiently show the structural integrity of the automotive to the FIA and feels that the necessities demanded by the inspections don’t at present meet the intense self-discipline of cross-country rallying.
“The choice from the stewards yesterday – actually, it’s onerous to swallow. I discover it irritating and disappointing as a result of, in my view, it’s not based mostly on stable arguments,” Loeb mirrored.
“After all, security is tremendous essential – I get that. However the line they’ve drawn right here doesn’t really feel suited to our self-discipline, the place we race in excessive circumstances.
“Our staff offered proof to show the roll cage was nonetheless stable, and I belief them utterly.
“Even visually, you may see the protection wasn’t compromised. So yeah, it’s robust to just accept.”
Loeb continues to be with out a victory on the world’s hardest rally raid occasion, after 9 earlier makes an attempt. His greatest end result has been second, which he has achieved 3 times, whereas an elusive maiden win should wait for an additional yr.
