Meeke the right man to lead Citroen in WRC, Loeb says
Nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb believes his former team Citroen was right to put its faith in Kris Meeke to lead its reinvigorated WRC campaign
Citroen is closing its World Touring Car Championship programme after 2016 and taking a year's hiatus from the WRC to develop the new C3 for the '17 season.
Meeke will lead the C3 test programme this year while contesting a part-season in the WRC with a PH Sport-run DS3, starting with this week's Monte Carlo season opener.
Loeb said Meeke's engineering skill made him the best choice for Citroen, given that Volkswagen's lead pair Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala are under contract with the champion team.
"Ogier is the strongest driver, but I don't know what is his level to develop a car," Loeb told Autosport.
"But he is blocked by Volkswagen, so you don't speak about Ogier [as an option]. It's a bit the same with Latvala.
"I think it's a good choice [to take Meeke].
"He is very clever because he's an engineer as well as a driver.
"Kris understands well how the car is working, so to develop a new car they need him.
"And to develop the car, I imagine Meeke could be better than a few of these guys [at other teams]. Apart from Kris, today, then I don't see who else."
Loeb had wanted to be part of Citroen's 2016 development programme before he was shown the door by the brand with which he won his WRC titles.
Meeke said he was flattered by the rallying legend's praise.
"To have the backing of a guy like that is great, but at the same time I still have to get in there and get the job done," he said.
"Sebastien Loeb and Citroen set the bar very high when they were at the top of their games and it's that level that we're aiming to get back to."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
Loeb had "no chance" against three-car Audi team in Dakar after Al-Attiyah exit
Loeb's Dakar victory hopes end with mechanical issues on Stage 11
Why Loeb v Ogier duel gave the WRC's new hybrid era the ideal start
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
Hyundai enacts contingency plan after WRC Kenya fuel issue
Vanwall working on 2025 WEC comeback with heavily-revised Hypercar
Russell: Mercedes locked in F1 "battle of fine margins"
How Rovanpera showed his class above his WRC rivals in Kenya
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lappi survived Swedish snow carnage to snap his lengthy WRC drought
The new WRC highs Neuville reached to defeat Monte master Ogier
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments