Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb is the latest driver to test Project Rally One’s 2027-specification Rally1 car.
The Frenchman added star quality to a growing list of test drivers when he ran the car in France earlier this week.
A Project Rally One statement on the team’s latest test said: “Project Rally One completed two days of testing in the French Vosges last week. On Thursday, Teemu Suninen took on the role of test driver. The team faced rainy weather throughout the day, which meant the initial set-up for wet conditions was tested.
“On Friday, Sébastien Loeb got behind the wheel. This time, the weather conditions were milder and driving was mainly carried out on dry roads. The feedback from both drivers was positive and their contribution was fundamental to the car’s development.
“The homologation dossier is currently being drafted and will be submitted to FIA’s technical department by the end of the month.”
While Loeb has been busy with his Dacia World Rally Raid Championship program and a selection of national rallies in a wide variety of cars, he hasn’t competed in the WRC in more than four years – not since he retired a Ford Puma Rally1 from the 2022 Acropolis.
The decision to submit homologation to the FIA is a positive step towards a Monte Carlo debut for the team, but PRO wouldn’t be drawn on a decision on when the car will run in competition for the first time. An announcement is expected by the end of the month.
DirtFish has contacted Loeb for comment.
