The 57th edition of the Azores Rallye will count with the participation of Sebastien Loeb. This will be the first time that the nine times world champion will line up in the event organised by Grupo Desportivo Comercial, which takes place on March 31st and April 1st. The rally in São Miguel Island will also mark Loeb’s debut at the wheel of a Skoda. The car to be used is the most recent evolution of the Czech model, a Fabia RS Rally2, whose care is given to Toksport WRT team.
Superlative name in rallying, Sebastien Loeb completed 49 years of age recently, and his debut in this sport goes back to 1997. In 1999 he started his international career and was French champion in 2001. From then on, with various models, he was world rally champion in every year between 2004 and 2012, won no less than 80 WRC rallies, stood on the podium 120 times and was the fastest at 947 special stages. Since 2014 he has been racing sporadically and his latest major success was victory in last year’s Monte Carlo Rally.
In addition to rallying, the Frenchman has also been victorious in various other motorsport disciplines. In recent years he has competed several times in the Dakar, where he has already been on the podium, and in 2023 he held the record of 6 consecutive stage wins. In 2022 was Extreme E world champion and in several decades won several times in the Race of Champions. In 2013 also won and broke the record on the famous American Pikes Peak hillclimb. Loeb has been a race winner in World RX. Also raced on the speedway, was second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and won in such different series as the WTCC, GT Series or French Supertourism championship.