Sébastien Loeb says that he is “surprised” to have been dropped from Citroën’s World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) programme, with the Frenchman ending his two-year foray into the series in Qatar.
Citroën revealed on Thursday that it would only enter two cars in the 2016 WTCC, for reigning champion José María López and Yvan Muller, before withdrawing entirely at the end of 2016.
As such, Loeb will no longer compete for the brand with whom he has been associated for the past 15 years.
“While my involvement in the WTCC will end in a few days in Qatar, where I will try to retain the runner-up position, the shape of my 2016 season is already coming together,” explained Loeb in a statement. “I will not be driving for Citroën Racing next year, but I will remain within the PSA Peugeot-Citroën Group, where I have joined the Rally Raid programme with Peugeot Sport.
“I was surprised when I learned that I would not continue to defend the colours of Citroën Racing in 2016. We built this WTCC challenge together, with the personal goal to win the drivers’ title in three years. I am disappointed that the adventure ends after two years, because I had the will to go and win this title. I had shown my competitiveness in the C-Elysée, with four wins in 2015 in particular.
“A beautiful story ends, but I have no regrets. On the contrary, I keep some great memories.”
Loeb’s move to Peugeot comes as a result of a decrease in WTCC involvement and the lack of official participation in the World Rally Championship in 2016.
“Since the beginning of the 2000s, the Citroën brand was my heart. I lived some incredibly moments, which I could not have imagined experiencing being so young. For that, I would like to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to live my passion every day, who trusted me and accompanied me in these victories.
“We wrote some beautiful pages in the history of the brand in competition. Of course, all the moments were shared with the men and women of Citroën Racing; mechanics and engineers, and also Danos [Daniel Elena, Loeb’s former co-driver]. These colleagues have become my friends – a second family, as they say. I have one word: thank you.
“A page turns; an important chapter in my career, for sure. But I am already turned on to new projects which excite me as much as the WTCC. One of them is the Dakar in a few weeks with Peugeot Sport.
“There will be other challenges, I am sure. Where, when and how; it is too early to answer precisely. I can only say that my passion is intact, as is my motivation.
I always loved discovering new things… and to win. The next few months should meet my expectations, at least that is the goal, and I’m looking forward to these new challenges.”