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Paris, France - Frenchman Sebastien Loeb will return to the place where he started his career when he targets an unprecedented seventh consecutive World title at the Rallye de France at the weekend.
The rally, which used to take place in Corsica, has been moved to the Alsace region where the Citroen driver was born.
"I raced in several events in the region at the start of my career at the end of the 1990's," Loeb told Citroen's website. "The start of the Firstplan stage for example, corresponds to the very first stage that I competed in in the 1997 Florival rally.
"I remember the sectors of the Alsace-Vosges rally pretty well."
'Can be a dream'
Loeb, now 36, will be chasing a 60th rally win on Sunday, could clinch the title with second place if compatriot and team mate Sebastien Ogier fails to finish in the top four. He has 201 points in the world championship standings to Ogier's 158 with three rallies left.
"Looking at the situation as it is, it can be a dream. Clinching my 60th victory in Hagenau (where he was born) and consequently a seventh World title would be magical", Loeb said.
"I'm under a lot of pressure. I will have to deal with it but I am looking forward to this rally."
Ogier expects the crowd to back his rival.
"It will be a pleasure to race in France. We can count on our fans' support, although I imagine the whole Alsace region will be behind Sebastien Loeb," he said.
The rally, which used to take place in Corsica, has been moved to the Alsace region where the Citroen driver was born.
"I raced in several events in the region at the start of my career at the end of the 1990's," Loeb told Citroen's website. "The start of the Firstplan stage for example, corresponds to the very first stage that I competed in in the 1997 Florival rally.
"I remember the sectors of the Alsace-Vosges rally pretty well."
'Can be a dream'
Loeb, now 36, will be chasing a 60th rally win on Sunday, could clinch the title with second place if compatriot and team mate Sebastien Ogier fails to finish in the top four. He has 201 points in the world championship standings to Ogier's 158 with three rallies left.
"Looking at the situation as it is, it can be a dream. Clinching my 60th victory in Hagenau (where he was born) and consequently a seventh World title would be magical", Loeb said.
"I'm under a lot of pressure. I will have to deal with it but I am looking forward to this rally."
Ogier expects the crowd to back his rival.
"It will be a pleasure to race in France. We can count on our fans' support, although I imagine the whole Alsace region will be behind Sebastien Loeb," he said.