Citroen Racing have announced their drivers for the 2011 WRC season.
Six-times World Champion Sebastian Loeb has signed for only one year, but could renew his contract at the end of next season. Loeb's signing has firmly killed rumors that Loeb planned to retire or move to sports car racing next year. Loeb applied to the FIA for an F1 super licence after a successful test with the Red Bull F1 team, but was refused. Rumors suggested that he would compete in the season ending Abu Dhabi GP, but didn't as he didn't get the licence.
“My contract with Citroën allowed me to stop at the end of this year, but my motivation and my will to win are still as strong as ever! The 2011 season will be my eleventh in the works Citroën colours.”
“I think that the world championship will be a very interesting one, as the arrival of a new generation of cars will reshuffle the cards among the manufacturers. Of course, it's no secret that we're already working flat-out on the new Citroën DS3, and I can't wait to see where it stands in relation to its rivals. In the meantime, winning my seventh consecutive world title is my main objective!” said the six-times World Champion.
Loeb's namesake Sebastian Ogier is poised to become Loeb's team-mate at the Citroen Total WRT, after signing a three-year contract, bringing to an end speculation that he could move to Ford, despite Loeb advising him to do so.
“I'd like to thank Citroën for renewing its confidence in me, and what's more, for three seasons!” .I made my world championship debut with this team, and I've always said that my priority was to stay with them.
“I'm thrilled at the idea of driving the new-generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level. Like Sébastien, I'm fully concentrated on the end of this season starting with the Finnish Rally, where I'll be part of the Citroën Total World Rally Team for the first time!” said the elated 26-year-old.
As for Dani Sordo, Citroen Racing Director Oliver Quesnel said: “Obviously, it’s a double dose of satisfaction for Citroën Racing. Not content to have the greatest set of results in the history of rallying, Sébastien Loeb is still as hungry as ever for more victories and titles. His experience, his race intelligence, and his capacity to get 100% out his cars, will be all the more crucial as we’ll have a new car next season. Citroën Racing has been preparing for the future with Sébastien Ogier for some time now. This is why we wanted to sign a contract with him for the next three seasons. Dani Sordo is still part of our plans for next year, but we have to finalise our budgets before announcing the full programme.”
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