So Loeb did two rounds and has a break now, how do people think he did relative to the expectation when he was signed. I have a few quotes to help some remember:

Quote Originally Posted by Japé View Post
When Loeb has won the first two rounds he might start to have second thoughts about driving only 6 rounds. And probably it is not an issue for Hyundai to have even 4 cars per rally.
Quote Originally Posted by Ds3 View Post
Goodbye Newville, Goodbye dreams ...
Run at M-Sport while there's room ...
Loeb has never been a team player, he's greedy ...
Quote Originally Posted by Tarmop View Post
He is the maestro, but it is not going to be a walk in the park for him...especially taking two in a row. If he is a podium contender on all the events, its good...figthing for the win on some, excellent.
Quote Originally Posted by Norm75 View Post
1. Loeb will win Monte and . . .
2. Be the leading Hyundai after Sweden
Quote Originally Posted by EstWRC View Post
3. Loeb arriving at Hyundai and being immediately faster than their full time drivers, saying that nothing is wrong with that car. Therefore Adamo is being sacked and Nandan called back.
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Obviously it's very easy to point out these in perfect hindsight.

On the other hand the difference between his C3 outings last year and I20 this year is huge.
In C3:
- top 3 speed in all rallies, leading 2 of 3
- fastest or equally fastest C3 in all of them (in Mexico he was about same speed as Meeke, Corsica faster, Spain fastest but only Breen to compare with)
Remember that C3 was still considered a difficult car to master on gravel when he drove it first time in Mexico (before suspension changes) and he was immediately fast.

I20:
- top 4-5 speed in Monte, only faster than Tidemand in Sweden
- clearly slower than Neuville on both, same speed as Mikkelsen in Monte when both competed, slowest in Sweden
- slower than Suninen on dry tarmac with same tires when he said he was pushing max!

I don't think he forgot how to drive in a few months. Sure there are factors that can explain why he is slower (new car, not enough testing, dakar before monte, long time since driving on snow etc. etc.), but the difference is imo so big that it can't be only down to those. Clearly the performance is very different compared with the expectations quoted above.