Loeb Needs Sordo in Quest for the WRC Title

With only 2 rounds to go in the World Rally Championship and 5 points to recuperate to Mikko Hirvonen in the overall classification, Sebastien Loeb can only pray his teammate Dani Sordo will be up to the task of helping him clinch a 6th consecutive title in the series.

Under the current circumstances, winning both the Spanish and British rallies will not be enough for the Citroen driver to reach that goal. While aware of the fact that he needs to perform some perfect driving in the upcoming 2 WRC events, Loeb also knows he can't do anything without Sordo's help.

Although the prospects for the Spanish event look good – the Citroen pair has finished 1-2 in the last 3 years – Loeb admitted he is no longer in control of the title fight.

“With two rallies left, the situation looks much more difficult. Despite winning the next two rallies, it would be inadequate in the event that Mikko [Hirvonen] comes second each time. We must therefore rely on the help of Dani (Sordo) to squeeze between, or a bad performance from Hirvonen,” said Loeb in an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe.

“In other words, I am now obliged to win in Catalonia and Wales, hoping that my opponent does not finish behind me every time. I am no longer in control,” added the reigning WRC champion, who also reiterated his frustration over his perfect-yet-non-victorious drive in Australia.

“After four months without success, the victory achieved on the gravel allowed us to begin to restore the situation. It has eventually escaped us and this could have big consequences,” concluded the Frenchman.