PARIS – Eight-time rallying world champion Sebastian Loeb, who is heading for a record ninth consecutive title, will not take part in all of next season's races, his Citroen team said Thursday. “After eight, possibly soon to be nine, consecutive world titles, Sebastien Loeb and (co-pilot) Daniel Elena will not be defending their title in 2013,” Citroen Racing said on their website (www.citroen-wrc.com). “They will therefore be taking part in a partial racing program next year, starting at the legendary Rally Monte Carlo, which opens the 2013 season between 15th and 20th January.” The 38-year-old Frenchman, who has always said he wanted to quit rallying at his peak, leads the world championship standings on 219 points, 61 ahead of his Citroen teammate Mikko Hirvonen from Finland, with three races to go. Loeb, who has had 74 wins in his career, will continue competing with Citroen, who had agreed a partnership with Abu Dhabi in order to cut their costs, the French carmaker said.— Reuters
