FRANCE: MOTOR RALLYING - PRESENTATION TO WORLD RALLY CHAMPION SEBASTIEN LOEB IN PARIS, UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER CITROEN ARE TO PULL OUT OF RALLYING BY END OF 2005.

Record ID: 215455

  • Title: FRANCE: MOTOR RALLYING - PRESENTATION TO WORLD RALLY CHAMPION SEBASTIEN LOEB IN PARIS, UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER CITROEN ARE TO PULL OUT OF RALLYING BY END OF 2005.
  • Date: 16th November 2004
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 16, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION (FIA) WITH RALLY CARS OUTSIDE 2. PEOPLE WATCHING 3. RALLY CARS 4. PEOPLE WATCHING 5. RALLY CARS 6. 2004 WORLD RALLY CHAMPION SEBASTIAN LOEB SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Engli
  • Embargoed: 1st December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA63WXDUKWYO9KW6JO1CW4IQEP4
  • Story Text: World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb non-commital
    about future.



    2004 World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb is
    uncertain about his future after French automakers Peugeot
    and Citroen announced they will end their participation in
    the rally event at the end of 2005.

    A presentation was made in Paris on Tuesday (November
    16) ahead of the Race of Champions, to be held this year on
    December 4. Since 1988 the 'best-in-all-the-world' are
    invited to compete in the event where competitors drive a
    range of identical cars in different conditions.

    Until now, the results have been dominated by rally
    drivers but there has not been a reigning Formula One
    champion or a circuit driver with the skills of Michael
    Schumacher taking part.

    Asked about his future Loeb, the newly-crowned World
    Rally Champion and the reigning title holder of the Race of
    Champions, said: "For the moment I have a contract for
    2005, so next year I will stay with Citroen and I hope I
    can do as well as this year. For 2006, for the moment I do
    not know.

    "I think if Citroen really stops the champonship I
    will have to talk to another manufacturer. But for the
    moment I do not know any more."
    French automakers Peugeot and Citroen will end their
    involvement in the world rally championship circuit at the
    end of 2005, their parent company PSA announced last week.

    The news came as a shock since Citroen recently picked
    up both the constructors title as well as the drivers
    title. Peugeot came fourth in the constructors standings.

    PSA says the state of the market forced it to put the
    brakes on its commitment to rallying, although it would be
    looking for other, less expensive avenues in sport in which
    to invest.

    PSA's decision also leaves a question mark over the car
    it was supposed to introduce into the world rally series in
    2005, the C4.

    As for Loeb's future, it remains uncertain. It would be
    logical for him to start looking around for another team.



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