Three former World Rally Championship regulars could be reunited on the 2016 Dakar Rally, with Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg now tipped to join Mikko Hirvonen on the event according to a report by David Evans in AUTOSPORT.
Hirvonen announced earlier this month that he will drive an X-raid Mini on the Dakar next January, and finished third on his competitive debut in the car on the Baja Aragon last weekend.
Loeb has tested a Peugeot 2008 DKR extensively in Morocco and has the green
light from Citroen to drive for it stablemate if he wishes.
The decision on Loeb’s Dakar participation is in his own hands and forms part of a wider discussion regarding the direction of his longer-term motorsport career.
Reigning World Rallycross champion and 2003 WRC title-winner Solberg is now also being linked with a Peugeot Dakar drive.
Although would not be drawn on the Peugeot rumours, Solberg confirmed he was eyeing a Dakar programme.”I am talking about Dakar,” he said.
“It’s something which interests me – but it absolutely has to be with the right team and the right car.
“I want to go there and be competing properly.”
Hirvonen, who finished behind X-raid team-mates Nani Roma and Orlando Terranova on the Spaniard round of the Cross Country World Cup last weekend, was excited by the prospect of taking on Loeb and Solberg again
“If they are coming to Dakar then it could be really cool to compete against them again,” said the Finn.
We need to see how their plans are progressing, but the chance to fight with them would be great.”