Formula One drive was never a priority for Loeb

Euan Megson

• Last Updated: October 22. 2009 10:41PM UAE / October 22. 2009 6:41PM GMT

Sebastien Loeb, the five-time world rally champion, says keeping the title is his No 1 priority. Manu Fernandez / AP Photo

CARDIFF // After months of speculation about his motorsport future, Sebastien Loeb, Citroen’s all-conquering world rally champion, cut a relaxed figure yesterday as he insisted winning a sixth straight World Rally Championship (WRC) crown was always more important to him than piloting a Formula One car at next week’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“It would have been a pleasure to go and take part in something completely new – it would have been an incredible experience,” said Loeb, ahead of the Rally Great Britain – the WRC climax.

“But it’s not a priority, my priority is this championship. The rest was a bonus and I have to expect the position of the FIA [motorsport’s governing body].

“I do not meet any of the conditions stipulated in the [FIA] regulations and I failed to obtain the license.

“This is the rule, it is the decision of the FIA. There’s no crying foul,” said Loeb.

The FIA this week refused Loeb the mandatory “Superlicence” he would have required to line-up on the Yas Marina grid in the Capital. Loeb had a one-off opportunity to drive for Toro Rosso since both the F1 championship and WRC battles would have been decided before the Abu Dhabi race on November 1.

“I told myself that I will probably only have one opportunity like this in my life,” said Loeb.

“All the more since the two championships would have been finished. Button won his world title last weekend, and the WRC title is at stake this weekend.

“So, my participation would not have got in the way of either championship. Finding an opportunity like that again seems very unlikely. All this put together, I do not think this opportunity will present itself again – it is gone.”

His loss, however, is rally’s gain. Such is the Frenchman’s WRC dominance – his 53 event wins and five world titles make him the sport’s most successful driver of all time – that most experts expect Loeb to overhaul Mikko Hirvonen’s one-point lead in Wales.

Loeb, however, knows that there are no foregone conclusions in rallying.

“I don’t think I have an advantage – we have about the same experience,” said Loeb.

“Mikko is very fast on the gravel events and it will be very tricky [to beat him].

“Going flat out for 300kms without any mistakes will be very difficult, but it is very hard to know who will win on Sunday.

“One of us will be happy, the other will be disappointed. I have five world titles, I hope for a sixth, but we’ll see.”