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Sebastien Loeb expects World Touring Car Championship rejuvenation

Sebastien Loeb says starting afresh in the World Touring Car Championship next season will rejuvenate him

The nine-time World Rally champion reckons it will be good for him to feel like a rookie when he switches to Citroen's tin-top line-up in 2014.

He insisted he had his emotions under control as he said farewell to the WRC in France last weekend.

"For me it's not so hard to believe that this is over," said Loeb. "For me, it was over last year, when I decided not to compete in the whole championship - the real change was there.

"Going to the WTCC is a new motivation for me. I feel like the old driver who is just retiring from WRC.

"But there [in the WTCC], I feel like the young new driver who is arriving, so it's another feeling. I feel a bit younger. I still look very young, no?"

Rallying's humble rock star leaves the stage

Loeb said he would only return to the WRC as a spectator. He will now become increasingly busy in his preparations for the WTCC.

"World Touring Cars will be a new life, but not a completely new job," Loeb told AUTOSPORT.

"I'll continue in the same job: testing racing and travelling - but less travelling in terms of the number of times on the aeroplanes and this is what I was looking for.

"To go to a new championship in a world championship in front of the specialists of the discipline is a hard challenge. We will see how it goes."

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