Sébastien Loeb must no longer make any mistakes

Sébastien Loeb has closed the gap to just 4 points behind the championship leader, Markus Gronholm. The Frenchman had a 10-point deficit two rallies ago, and he still has 3 rallies remaining to make a difference.

Nevertheless, he admits that the end of the championship will be much tighter than in the last two rallies – Spain and France.

The three-time world champion therefore believes he must win the Japan Rally, which will take place next week, if he wants to keep his chances of a consecutive quadruple title.

“The number of rallies still to come and given the gap in the championship, we have no choice but to win in Japan, in particular,” admitted Loeb.

« Before Spain, I needed to win the other five rallies. After Corsica, I still need to win the last three. That’s where we are, but the challenge has never been so tough. »

The Citroën driver won the Rally of Japan last year, but Gronholm is getting faster and the Ford performances are good on this type of terrain. Not very reassuring for him.

« We must do everything to be ahead of Gronholm, » he hopes. « If we succeed, and he finishes second, we still maintain our title chances. »

« It will not be easy because he is often fast in Japan, but we will put pressure on him. And of course, no team member should make any mistakes… » Loeb concluded.