Loeb will retire after 2011 season

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Originally Posted by TMorel

I'd love him to start his own team, give Petter a challenge for the top privateer, but regardless, I'll honestly miss his crushing dominance.

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AFAIK Loeb has his own team. It`s a PH-Sport.

PH Sport is owned by Loeb?!

Anyway I think he referes to the championship, full time may be too much for him right now but that dosen't mean he will retire from rally, I remeber and interview few years ago where he talked about doing some rally's outside of the WRC.

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Originally Posted by Barreis

He wants to make the same mistake as Gronholm did and after two years he will look for a competetive drive.. Rubish..

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I agree with this...the good thing when you retire at the top is that everyone remembers you being the best, but the downside is that you feel you left a bit early.

During our rally, he said in an interview that he would stop already after this season, but that he need time to prepaire for the future, so he will drive 1 year more.
I think he is doing the right thing, its a tough life, much pressure lot of travelling, and after a few Championships already won, it cant be easy to find motivation.
What comes to come backs of old drivers, I dont think Grönholm was the one who was looking for a drive, more like that Prodrive wanted him to help them out in developing the car.

Loeb will retire : maybe, maybe not :

Eurosport.fr today :
Vous avez dit récemment : "La fin approche". Vous avez même déclaré dans la presse : "La bonne nouvelle est que je ne reviendrai plus jamais au Japon puisque le rallye n'est pas au calendrier en 2011" . Mais on ne connait pas le calendrier 2012… Est-ce que ça veut bien dire que vous allez prendre votre retraite fin 2011 ?

S.L. : (Petit temps de réflexion) Heu, je ne sais pas… En fait, j'ai toujours marché au feeling. Je me dis que je ne vais pas continuer éternellement, et que si ça m'a échappé comme ça, c'est que je vais faire 2011, et que pour la suite, je pense aujourd'hui que - peut-être - j'arrêterai après. Mais bon, en 2003 j'ai dit à ma mère : "Encore deux ans et c'est terminé !" Je marche au feeling. Si je suis dans le même état d'esprit fin 2011 qu'aujourd'hui, je continuerai. Mais il y a bien un moment où il faudra passer à autre chose.


http://www.eurosport.fr/rallye/passe...47/story.shtml

Indeed, there's some amount of "maybe" in that interview.

I can understand if Loeb retires after 2011 because he has nothing to prove in WRC anymore. Also Citroen has found new Seb and sooner or later their resources will be shifted from Loeb to Ogier. I think it is wise to retire before being treated as the 2nd driver.

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Originally Posted by Lalo

Translating an article from Corsa (one of the best motorsports magazines in Argentina)

"The reign of France's Sebastien Loeb in the Rally World Championship has an expiration date. In an interview with Paris Match magazine gala, Seb said he would withdraw from the activity "at the end of the 2011 season."

After winning six titles and be ready to hold the seventh of its successful sports campaign, Loeb told the magazine that "it is not worth taking unnecessary risks by trying to follow."

The multiple champion said that has nothing to do on arrival at the team of Sebastien Ogier, who never stops amazed by their performance. "It is he who put an end to my career, I who took this decision," he said.

However, being away from the WRC does not mean it will no longer compete. It is quite possible tipping himself to the track through its participation in long-term careers, something that it is not unknown after participating in some editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"I've taken enough risks and I'm not willing to take the same. My only motivation now is the pleasure" ended."

http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2010/0...-su-retiro.php

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Muchachito mio, he said in the interview "“No es él quien puso fin a mi carrera" a little difference, no?

Loeb's retirement is not a surprise. To be honest, in the past I expected him to retire even a bit earlier (after 2009 or 2010). Also in some ways it would be suitable to retire after 2010, because he is still winning - but with Ogier coming seriously good the younger man may well beat Loeb to the title next year. But then again perhaps Loeb wants to try out the new generation rally cars too before calling it a day.

Ogier can wipe his a**..