PARIS: Eight-times rallying world champion Sebastian Loeb, who is heading for a record ninth consecutive title, will not take part in all of next season’s races, his Citroen team said on Thursday.
“After eight, possibly soon to be nine, consecutive world titles, Sebastien Loeb and (co-pilot) Daniel Elena will not be defending their title in 2013,” Citroen Racing said on their website (www.citroen-wrc.com).
“They will therefore be taking part in a partial racing program next year, starting at the legendary Rally Monte Carlo, which opens the 2013 season between 15th and 20th January.” The 38-year-old Frenchman leads the world championship standings on 219 points, 61 ahead of his Citroen teammate Mikko Hirvonen from Finland, with three races to go.
Loeb, who has had 74 wins in his career, will continue competing with Citroen, who had agreed a partnership with Abu Dhabi in order to cut their costs, the French carmaker said.
“In these tough economic times, Citroen has taken the view that it is essential for it to remain involved in motorsport... At the same time, it was equally important to find a way of reducing the brand’s financial commitment to the team’s operating costs,” Citroen said.
PSA Peugeot-Citroen announced restructuring plans in July which involve 8,000 job cuts and the closure of one its biggest plants in France.
“In this context, we are particularly proud to welcome Abu Dhabi on board,” Citroen Racing Team principal Yves Matton was quoted as saying on the website.
“This partnership will provide us with the means of continuing our program and entering three DS3 WRCs in 2013.”
Loeb will not race for title next season
Loeb will not race for title next season
Italy enjoys a record-breaking day at the Winter Olympics by claiming six medals
- The Italy team won silver in the mixed relay biathlon race and Riccardo Lorello claimed bronze in the men’s speedskating 5,000 meters
MILAN: This could turn out to be Italy’s best Winter Olympics ever after a record-breaking day on home snow and ice.
The host nation picked up six medals on Sunday, the most Italy has ever won in a single day at the Winter Olympics. The breakdown: one silver and five bronze.
Ski star Sofia Goggia kicked it off with a bronze medal in the women’s downhill and Lucia Dalmasso was also third in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom.
The Italy team won silver in the mixed relay biathlon race and Riccardo Lorello claimed bronze in the men’s speedskating 5,000 meters.
The official X account for the Milan Cortina Games proclaimed it to be Italy’s best day in Winter Olympics history. And that was before Dominik Fischnaller won bronze in men’s singles luge, and before Italy took bronze in the figure skating team event in the evening.
“Competing at home is definitely something unique. The fans did their part,” Lorello said. “I’m very happy to have put the cherry on top tonight. And I’m proud of all of my Italian teammates in the other sports.”
Italy has nine medals after just two days of medal events, with the host nation winning gold, silver and bronze on Saturday.
The Azzurri are almost halfway to their best ever tally at a Winter Games, that was 20 at Lillehammer in 1994.
Italy won 11 medals the last time it hosted the Games, in Turin in 2006. It claimed 17 in Beijing four years ago.
At a ceremony in October to mark 100 days to go until the start of the Milan Cortina Games, Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio said Italy was aiming for a minimum target of 19 medals.
