Sébastien Loeb Faces Tough Luck at the Rally of Morocco
This week’s Rally of Morocco proved to be a relentless challenge for Sébastien Loeb, culminating in a disastrous conclusion that saw the seasoned driver grappling with misfortune until the very end. As Loeb aimed to salvage some pride by clinching victory in the final stage, disaster struck just a kilometer from the finish line. The championship lead shifted dramatically towards Toyota as Loeb's hopes crumbled with a last-minute setback.
From the bivouac, the surrounding hills provided an unparalleled view of the competing vehicles racing down the final stretch. The fastest competitors were barreling downhill, chasing the relief that comes after an exhausting final stage, with crucial points at stake for the world championship standings. Loeb, driving for Dacia, appeared poised to secure the fastest time in the last special stage. However, the Sandrider that emerged at the summit was anything but the expected high-performance machine.
With the brilliant body of his vehicle reflecting the waning sun, Loeb and his co-driver Édouard Boulanger found themselves being towed by a support truck—an unfortunate lifeline that was their only chance to reach the finish line. The front right corner of their vehicle was dragging on the ground, missing a wheel entirely. In such a state, the Dacia was more akin to a snowplow clearing sand off the track than a competitive racing car.
Loeb expressed his frustration regarding the incident, attributing part of the mishap to competitor Marek Goczal, who allegedly kicked up dust intentionally to assist his own son’s performance in the stage. "It’s the consequence of Marek Goczal who deliberately created dust to help his son win the special stage," Loeb remarked. The rally concluded later than expected for Loeb, who found himself surrounded by quads, vintage cars, and lower-categorized vehicles—an unusual scenario for someone of his caliber. He remained stranded for over an hour at the brink of that last kilometer, underscoring the tough luck he faced throughout the competition.
As reported by lequipe.fr.
