Video: Seb Loeb is now a rallycross driver

Sebastien Loeb isn’t a man to sit at home and twiddle his thumbs. Since decimating the WRC between 2004 and 2012  – where he single-handedly re-wrote the rallying record books by winning the WRC championship an unprecedented nine times on the bounce – he’s tried his hand at a few types of motorsport.

From F1 testing, the Dakar Rally, WTCC, Le Mans and Pikes Peak, there’s one discipline he’s not had a proper crack at: Rallycross.

Until now. He's committed to the full 2016 World Rallycross Championship with the Peugeot Hansen team where he’ll be piloting a 208. But not any normal Pegueot 208, the 208 WRX Supercar capable of 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds. Yowch. 
 “Over the years I have been fortunate to participate in some truly amazing racing. But rallycross - with the sheer power and the competitiveness plus the intense nature of the competition - will be something very special,” Loeb said.

He competed at his home French round at Loheac back in 2013, and also won a gold medal at the 2012 X Games in California, so Seb’s not a complete stranger to rallycross.

That didn’t stop him from, um, extensively testing (read: drift, jump and smash into slalom poles) his new 600bhp toy around a frozen Swedish lake with new teammate Timmy Hansen. You can watch that rather excellent footage above. 

With Loeb going up against his old WRC rival and 2014/15 reigning World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg, plus Ken Block, we're sure this season should be a good ’un. The opening round kicks off in Montalegre, Portugal, from 15-17 April, with it coming to the UK in May. If you can, we’d recommend you pop along.