20 Oct 12

Loeb swaps
four wheels
for two

Having crashed out of Rally Italia Sardegna on Friday, nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb reduced his engine capacity by about 1250cc and swapped four wheels for two this morning - by going out to spectate armed with a motocross bike.

Sardinia is well known for motocross adventure holidays, with several mountain tracks all over the island ideal for chewing up gravel.

Motocross is one of Citroen ace Loeb’s favourite hobbies that he regularly uses as a fun alternative to the gym - which he hates. It’s also a sport that many of the WRC’s leading stars love, with ex-MINI driver Kris Meeke and Ford’s technical director Christian Loriaux being particular devotees.

But while Loriaux still had work to do monitoring the progress of factory Fiesta drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg, Loeb set off with a group of friends to watch the action this morning, finding some spectacular vantage points on the tight and narrow stages. Not that there was much for him to learn...

Despite his early exit from the FIA World Rally Championship round, Loeb has stayed on Sardinia with his family to enjoy the Mediterranean island’s autumn sunshine.