Loeb and Elena explain themselves, “but it was impossible..”

Back at the assistance area in Obihiro, Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena explained their blunder that prevents them from reclaiming the lead in the World Rally Championship after the 14th round of the season in the Land of the Rising Sun.

« In a right turn, due to a mistake in the notes, we made an error, » says Loeb.

« I tried to swerve the car to slow it down. We first knocked over some shrubs and then a thicker tree sent us into the ravine. We ended up with the front wheels on branches and the rear wheels on the road. We tried everything to get back completely on the pavement, but it was impossible. »

An error fully shouldered by Daniel Elena: « This off-road excursion is entirely my fault! In my notebook, it was written “-” “-” and I announced “+” “+” which means we entered this turn a gear higher than we should have. Sébastien [Loeb] tried to prevent us from going off, but it didn’t work. It happened in a moment of distraction. It’s my first mistake in ten years and I will do everything to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I look forward and not in the rearview mirror, so the next target is Ireland! »

By going off the road while Marcus Grönholm had already retired, Sébastien Loeb missed a good opportunity to retake the lead in the World Rally Championship.

« I am, of course, disappointed with this outcome and having missed this opportunity. What we must keep in mind is that our situation remains unchanged from before Catalonia: we have to win the two rallies still on the schedule! It’s less bad than if Marcus Grönholm had won here in front of us! So we will go to Ireland and Wales with the ambition to try to win. »

Marcus Grönholm maintains a four-point lead over Sébastien Loeb before the next two events.

According to the WRC