After his second-place finish at Le Mans in 2006, Sébastien Loeb is ready to launch is own racing team, with endurance racing as a short-term prime objective.

In 1997, Dominique Heintz had begun Ambition Sport Auto, who was running a Volant 106 for Sébastien Loeb. Fifteen years later he talks as the co-founder of Sébastien Loeb Racing: “It’s a logical continuation of the adventure. Sébastien has just clarified his future as a driver. It’s the right time: after these next two years in Rally (2012 and 2013), he’ll have the opportunity to get even more involved in the team which will have already gone through its growing pains. We’ve been talking about it for a while now : we just had to let time do its thing.” As first steps, the team will run in the Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup, entering two Porsche 911 GT3 Cups. Sébastien Loeb Racing also consider entering a Formula Le Mans (Oreca FLM09) in the Le Mans Series with the goal of one day racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With seven WRC world titles in his record, and fighting for an eighth crown in the Rally of Great Britain in (November 10-13), Sébastien Loeb is ready to take on the new challenge: “With Dominique, we’ve often spoken about this desire to start a team together. A true friendship links us. The story began fifteen years ago: he’s the one who began the idea. We promised to each other that we would do it one day, and that day has come!” After shining on the Rally circuit for so many years, Sébastien Loeb has opted for a new challenge: “I’ve had a few experiences on circuits, in different disciplines, and I liked those experiences as well as the atmosphere around them, he explains. Rallying represents a large part of my life and it’s something I still enjoy, which is why I’m continuing in the sport. But in the coming years, when I’ll have more time available, I want to discover a new universe.”

Alongside his WRC commitments, Loeb competed twice in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in 2006. Endurance racing is an objective for Sébastien Loeb, as confirmed by Heintz: “Our desire is to acquire the necessary experience to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans around 2014 in the LM P2 category. Formula Le Mans is a good solution to start in prototype racing. This is why we are working to get the necessary budget.” Loeb concurs: “Endurance racing is attractive. The World Endurance Championship will be launched in 2012, with three officially entered constructors. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a legendary race and we hope to one day be on the grid as a racing team. To accomplish this, we must put together a cohesive project and take it step by step.” Loeb and Heintz could aim for young drivers. “It’s one of our hopes, says Heintz. We must not forget that this was the base of our friendship. We’ll use Sébastien’s path as inspiration to reproduce a great career, it’s a formidable challenge! That said, sharing his experience with a gentleman driver would be a unique adventure as well…”

Details of Sébastien Loeb Racing and of the definitive plans will be announced during an official presentation before the end of this year.

(Based upon Sébastien Loeb Racing press information)

Photo : 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2006. Sébastien Loeb finished second in 2006 with Franck Montagny and Eric Helary, and will be back  Pescarolo Sport en compagnie de Franck Montagny et Eric Helary, c'est en patron d'écurie (et aussi pilote ?) que Sébastien Loeb reviendra en Sarthe à l'horizon 2014.