Stop the press ! Loeb + Pescarolo !

Fab · 26 Mar 2005, 16:03 (Ref:1262364)

Yes, it's in Ouest France today !

Sébastien Loeb take a lot of pleasure to test the Pescarolo at the HTTT, and is now keen to do the 24 hours ; his WRC team is OK (Guy Frequelin is his boss), and it's now in Henri's hands...

Can't wait to see that ! What a "coup" for the marketing stuff ! After the Oreca Audi, this could attract more french medias in the spot...

JAG · 26 Mar 2005, 16:08 (Ref:1262366)

Agree Fab, Loeb may not be that recognisable to our friends across the pond, but he is a huge star in Europe.

Precurser to a Citroen LMP1 entry?

Dani Filth · 26 Mar 2005, 16:44 (Ref:1262384)

YEAH BABY .. doing a reverse Sarrasin ..
jag . not only a huge star . but WRC 2004 Champion .

i know who i would cheer for

FG1 · 26 Mar 2005, 17:11 (Ref:1262392)

Great! I'm a big admirer!

FG

Nordic · 26 Mar 2005, 17:16 (Ref:1262396)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FG1

Great! I'm a big admirer!

FG

So is my wife, but for different reasons!

Anything that raises the profile of Le Mans is good. If he races, lets hope he does as well as Elford or McRae

bernard b · 26 Mar 2005, 17:55 (Ref:1262419)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

;.. doing a reverse Sarrasin ..

Sarrazin himself plans to do a "reverse-reverse" in an Aston Martin

McRae seemed to give ideas to other WRC drivers

**PascaLM** · 26 Mar 2005, 18:51 (Ref:1262451)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Precurser to a Citroen LMP1 entry?

Excellent deduction !
I just wish Frequelin thought the same !

TheNewBob · 26 Mar 2005, 19:13 (Ref:1262459)

Thank goodness people are not just sticking to one thing like F1 drivers do these days. Now lets get people like Alesi, Hakkinen or Frentzen in at Le Mans, so we can have ex-F1 multiple-winners (well, apart from Alesi) against Rally champions against Le Mans regulars!

JAG · 26 Mar 2005, 19:44 (Ref:1262471)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PascaLM

Excellent deduction !
I just wish Frequelin thought the same !

Or maybe he'll switch to the dark side,

Peugeot!

rdjones · 26 Mar 2005, 20:09 (Ref:1262495)

Well McRae did OK last year, and remember Walter Röhrl (another ex-WRC Champion) has raced at Le Mans in the pasted too. So lets see what you are made of Mr Loeb.

**PascaLM** · 26 Mar 2005, 20:25 (Ref:1262517)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Or maybe he'll switch to the dark side,

Peugeot!

Peugeot formed the PSA group in 1974 while absorbing Citroën who has kept his tradition of technologies development (hydraulic suspensions, directional headlights) and prestige (SM...).
Peugeot have above all did mass production, so I think they will stay in rally after two wins at Le Mans.
A victory of Citroën in La Sarthe would suit their image de marque like Bentley did in 2003.

So why not a wave of fresh novelty with some great comebacks ?

JAG · 26 Mar 2005, 21:45 (Ref:1262559)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PascaLM

Peugeot formed the PSA group in 1974 while absorbing Citroën who has kept his tradition of technologies development (hydraulic suspensions, directional headlights) and prestige (SM...).
Peugeot have above all did mass production, so I think they will stay in rally after two wins at Le Mans.
A victory of Citroën in La Sarthe would suit their image de marque like Bentley did in 2003.

So why not a wave of fresh novelty with some great comebacks ?

But Peugeot are out of the WRC after this season and their boss Corrado Prevera (sp) is retiring.

Not sure what has been reported in France but in Autosport they reported a few weeks back that an LMP1 design, possibly diesal powered, was being studied and the idea of a return to Le Mans was gaining momentum at Peugeot Sport.

The proposed WTCC program could still go ahead, but with national importers,

**GTRMagic** · 26 Mar 2005, 23:23 (Ref:1262605)

Interesting news... I wonder if Mr Loeb has the "feel" for a sports prototype?? Its not like he can cut corners on a race circuit

I can recall an interview with Ove Andersson of TTE fame, and he considered that one of the brighter talents ever to drive the Toyota GT-One Sportscar was actually Carlos Sainz.....

I wish Mr Loeb well.. I hope his codrivers help him ease into the race, on a circuit with other cars on it (also a new novelty..) in something that will require confidence, and go waaaaaaaaaaaayyy quicker than his WRC Citroen....

**PascaLM** · 26 Mar 2005, 23:46 (Ref:1262616)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

But Peugeot are out of the WRC after this season and their boss Corrado Prevera (sp) is retiring.

Not sure what has been reported in France but in Autosport they reported a few weeks back that an LMP1 design, possibly diesal powered, was being studied and the idea of a return to Le Mans was gaining momentum at Peugeot Sport.

The proposed WTCC program could still go ahead, but with national importers,

Yes we know that Peugeot will retire from Rally. But for Le Mans PSA will just have to put a name on the car : Peugeot, Citroën ?

But now, we are just speculating. Let's wait several months !

bernard b · 27 Mar 2005, 15:32 (Ref:1262956)

in L'équite today, they say they asked Pescarolo at Nogaro about Loeb driving at LM, he neither denied nor confirm ...
seems to be a huge thing to organize, they need time to set up all the deal...

djb · 28 Mar 2005, 04:48 (Ref:1263312)

trés cool, but what sort of circuit racing experience does he have? That said, the guy has natural talent just brimming out of the place, how much of a disadvantage not having on-track experience with other cars and long long stints comparing with obvious fantastic improvising abilties via rallying is up in the air.

and then there isthe press-buzz--wow, kinda like Rossi in cars.

brielga · 28 Mar 2005, 07:44 (Ref:1263342)

Quote:

Originally Posted by djb

trés cool, but what sort of circuit racing experience does he have? That said, the guy has natural talent just brimming out of the place, how much of a disadvantage not having on-track experience with other cars and long long stints comparing with obvious fantastic improvising abilties via rallying is up in the air.

and then there isthe press-buzz--wow, kinda like Rossi in cars.

We'll just have to wait and see but I was very positively impressed with Mc rae last year, he did much better than a lot of "more experienced" drivers. At least he did not lose the Ferrari like Tomas Enge did when they were just 8 secs behind the leading Corvette after almost 20 hours....

**PascaLM** · 28 Mar 2005, 11:10 (Ref:1263422)

During the race of Super GT on MotorsTV, Xavier Pompidou said there are few chances to see S. Loeb at Le Mans mainly because of the specific preparation and driving.

Dani Filth · 28 Mar 2005, 11:25 (Ref:1263433)

i think i might write something to S.Loeb ...

http://www.sebastienloeb.com/html/livre-ecrire.htm

i've just read on his page . that his father died .

Fab · 28 Mar 2005, 13:56 (Ref:1263516)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

i've just read on his page . that his father died .

Oh dear !

I let a message, as Bernard did before; I'm amazed by the number of warm messages posted on his Golden Book after his loss, from all over the world...

vandijk · 13 Apr 2005, 20:50 (Ref:1277528)

Found some more on Loeb:

"It's looking good," the winner of last weekend's Rally of New Zealand said today.

"There's just one small obstacle to iron out."

That problem is that he will have to get special dispensation to miss the press conference at the end of the Rally of Tunisia on June 5, the day Loeb will be required for testing on the Le Mans circuit.

Loeb will be at the wheel of a Pescarolo-Judd in the June 18-19 event if he gets clearance to race.

Source: http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au

BSchneiderFan · 13 Apr 2005, 22:12 (Ref:1277607)

Rally of Turkey, surely?

Silk Cut Jaguar · 13 Apr 2005, 22:35 (Ref:1277632)

He could always skip the press conference and take the $5000 fine I suppose? I'm sure PlayStation would pay it for him.

jhansen · 13 Apr 2005, 22:54 (Ref:1277643)

In my opinion the ACO should do what it can to bring Loeb to Le Mans. He can definitely raise the stature of this year's event and bring more fans to the track. Well, at least French ones. We have a French backed Audi, the Pescarolos, and a Courage factory P1 team. Add Loeb and our French friends will be out in force.

courageous · 13 Apr 2005, 23:15 (Ref:1277653)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandijk

Found some more on Loeb:
he will have to get special dispensation to miss the press conference at the end of the Rally of Tunisia on June 5, the day Loeb will be required for testing on the Le Mans circuit. http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au

Given the FIA & ACO are working together on common GT rules, I am sure something can be sorted out.

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