Loeb set to contest Pikes Peak!

Sebastien Loeb is set to tackle the legendary Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado, bringing back the T16 title to the infamous and terrifying ascent.

Peugeot recently announced their their intention to return to the event, and then announced that nine-times World Rally Champion and renowned tarmac ace Sebastien Loeb would drive their prototype creation in the Unlimited class.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Citroen for this one-off 'loan' of its exceptional champion. Our objective is to win, so we needed to stack up as many cards as possible in our favour by joining forces with the very best partners for this unique project, namely Total, Red Bull, Michelin and Sebastien Loeb.” said Maxime Picat, director general of Peugeot Automobiles.

Very little is currently known about the car Loeb will drive, other than it will be based on their 208 model and will carry the name T16, in homage to the legendary 205 T16 and 405 T16. The latter of which winning the 1988 event with Ari Vatanen and the 1989 event with Robby Unser. The new car is also expected to feature upwards on 600bhp as well, which is twice the power of a normal WRC car, but around what is expected at Pikes Peak. More technical data for the car will be released next month it is expected.

However, in stark contrast from when Vatanen won it 25 years ago, the Pikes Peak route features absolutely no gravel sections, something that will play into the hands of Loeb, who has won almost all of the tarmac rallies in the WRC since 2005, failing to win only four in eight years.

The race runs for a distance of 12.42 miles (19.99kms), over solely tarmac roads, featuring 156 corners ascending 1,500 metres. The record stands at 9 mins 46.164 secs, set last year by Rhys Millen in a Hyundai Genesis in the Unlimited 'anything goes' class. Given Loeb's appetite for shattering records, it wouldn't be too untoward to expect the Frenchman to lower the record even more this year!