Loubet is taking a step back in his career, having competed on the main class since 2020. This year, the Frenchman will race in the second class driving a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 car.
The jump to Skoda’s wheel came as a surprise, as rumors previously suggested Loubet would start the season with Toyota’s new Rally2 car. Loubet tested Toyota’s novelty in the French Alps in December.
Skoda now has a strong trio in WRC2, as, in addition to Loubet, Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith are setting out to chase the championship with the Fabia. Each member of the trio has experience from the WRC class and they are this year’s biggest favorites in the class. The Skoda Fabias are managed by the Toksport team.
Loubet last competed in a Skoda in 2019, when he clinched the WRC2 championship.
“The title of WRC2 World Champion in 2019 with Skoda Motorsport is the most beautiful memory of my career! I’m super excited to be back with this manufacturer,” Loubet enthused.
Loubet has strong confidence that with Skoda’s racer, he can compete for the championship.
“We have the right weapon for it, so let’s do this and try to enjoy as much as possible,” Loubet planned.
Loubet will not start his season at Rally Monte Carlo, which is scheduled in two weeks. The season’s second round will be held after mid-February in Sweden.
Loubet, 26, competed in Hyundai’s WRC car in the WRC class in 2020-21. The last two seasons he drove for the M-Sport in a Ford Puma Rally1 car, achieving his best results of fourth place in Sardinia and Greece in 2022.
Last season was disastrous for the Frenchman, as he retired in seven WRC rounds. Loubet did not start in the final rally of the season, as M-Sport gave the opportunity to his compatriot Adrien Fourmaux.
Fourmaux and Luxembourger Gregoire Munster will drive Ford’s Rally1 cars this season.
