The Sebastiens re-sign with WRC Citroën

In a move that will break the hearts of M-Sport in Cumbria and delight the French WRC Citroën team, Citroën Racing have announced both Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier will race again for the team in the 2011 World Rally Championship.

M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson had offered the breakout star of the year Ogier after his fine win at Rally Portugal ahead of Loeb a lucrative contract to campaign a Ford Focus next season alongside Jari Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen.  However, the 26 year old Frenchman has declined the opportunity and instead has chosen to stay with his present employers.

The move will see Ogier promoted from the Citroën Junior Team to the Citroën Total World Rally team alongside six time champion Loeb.  Loeb’s current team mate Dani Sordo will be dropped to make way to create the ‘French Super Team.’  An obviously happy Citroën Racing team principal Olivier Quesnel said:

Obviously, it’s a double dose of satisfaction for Citroën Racing. Not content to have the greatest set of results in the history of rallying, Sebastien Loeb is still as hungry as ever for more victories and titles. His experience, his race intelligence, and his capacity to get 100 per cent out his cars, will be all the more crucial as we’ll have a new car next season.

With Loeb already heading towards his seventh title in 2010 and now re-signing for another year, will he be able to add an unprecedented eight championship to his trophy cabinet or will Ogier be able to thwart his record attempt?  Either way, after this news Citroën can’t really lose.