World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has joined Le Mans regulars Sebastien Bourdais, Marc Gene, Franck Montagny and Alexander Wurz at an official Peugeot Sport test session with the 908 HDi FAP at the new Motorland circuit in Aragon, Spain.
The Citroën WRC driver made an active contribution to the test which formed part of a programme leading up to a possible participation for the Frenchman in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours. That weekend does not have a WRC round and therefore Loeb would be available to drive in the 24 hour classic.
Sebastien will now take part in Peugeot Sport’s upcoming simulation tests, and a decision regarding his incorporation in the Peugeot Total squad for next June’s race will be taken jointly at the end of February.
“Sebastien Loeb made an active contribution to the test which formed part of a programme leading up to a possible participation for the Frenchman in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours, given that there is no WRC round scheduled the same weekend,” said a Peugeot statement. “Sebastien will now take part in Peugeot Sport’s upcoming simulation tests, and a decision regarding his incorporation in the Peugeot Total squad for next June’s race will be taken jointly at the end of February.”
Loeb contested Le Mans with Pescarolo in 2005 and 2006, finishing second overall in the latter event. He first tested the Peugeot 908 12 months ago, but Le Mans clashed with the Acropolis Rally this year. Citroën and Peugeot share the same parent automotive group PSA. PSA uses the WRC to promote the Citroen brand, and Le Mans is the domain used for Peugeot. Also in Loeb’s favour is that his boss Olivier Quesnel is both the Director of Citroën Sport and Peugeot Sport.