Nine-time World Rally Championship (WRC) champion Sébastien Loeb of France will fill in for Kiwi Nick Cassidy in the Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse at the DTM season opener in Portimão, Portugal (April 29- May 1). Cassidy’s FIA Formula E commitments clash with the round which will see Loeb driving in DTM for the first time. He joins teammate Felipe Fraga of Brazil as the team launches its defence of the DTM Teams’ Championship title.
Loeb’s race program for 2022 has included driving in the WRC, Dakar, the FIA World Rally Raid Championship, Extreme E and now DTM.
“In my career I’ve always enjoyed changing disciplines,” commented Loeb. “DTM is a famous championship, so when I had this opportunity to participate, for sure I took it – it’s an exciting challenge because the driving style is completely opposite.”
Loeb’s previous highlights in circuit racing include second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006 (Pescarlo Sport – LMP1), third overall in the World Touring Car Championship in both 2014 (Citroën Total WTCC) and 2015 (Citroën C-Elysée WTCC), and a triumph in February this year when he edged out F1 driver Sebastian Vettel to win the Race of Champions – on an ice track – for a record-equalling fourth time.
“Now I’m into the work,” said Loeb. “I will have to fight against specialists in these kinds of races and it’s a long time since my last real GT3 race. My goal will be to find my rhythm as best as possible and I will try to use my experience to give good feedback to the team about the settings of the car. I know it will be tough, but the cars are really fun to drive – really fast, nice cars – so I’m looking forward to it.”
The 2022 season marks DTM’s second campaign in its high-powered new era of GT3 regulations. Each of the season’s eight rounds features two sprint races of 55 minutes plus one lap, without driver changes. On the DTM circuit in Portimão, Loeb will be racing the Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO 2020.
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