Citroen rules out Sebastien Loeb returning to WRC for Corsica
Citroen team principal Yves Matton has dismissed speculation that Sebastien Loeb could make his World Rally Championship return on this year's Tour of Corsica
Sources close to Citroen admitted a second WRC outing of the season for Loeb had been talked about in the team's Versailles base, but the Frenchman's World Touring Car Championship commitment made it all-but impossible to make it to Corsica in time for his home event in October.
"Corsica is impossible for him," said Matton, "Shanghai [WTCC] ends Sunday night and the recce starts in Corsica on Monday morning and Concorde is not flying any more..."
While the Chinese WTCC round has ended French rally fans' hopes of seeing the nine-time champion in a DS 3 WRC for the second time this year, it remains logistically possible that he could tackle the subsequent Catalunya Rally or Rally GB.
Loeb was drafted back into the squad for the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally and made an immediate impression, leading the event before going off the road.
Citroen has long-stated its need to bring home second place in the manufacturers' championship and Loeb has a strong record in both Spain and Wales - he has won Catalunya eight times and Rally GB three.
Matton added that rallying remains on Loeb's radar, under the right circumstances.
"He still really motivated by rallying, but not motivated by a full season," said Matton.
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