5 replies to this topic

[BiggestBuddyLazierFan]

I would like to learn more about Loeb. Is there a good read somewhere about his early days? How he became driver afer being gymnast and never actually had proper motorsport upbringing (karting etc...)

He always amazed me. Both as a driver and as a person. But his early days are a bit of a mistery

Edited by BiggestBuddyLazierFan, 10 June 2019 - 10:03.

[BiggestBuddyLazierFan]

Also I really like the fact that he was never in karting. Its painfull to watch todays daddys forcing their kids into karting. And then we end up with drivers that never had a chance to pick racing for themselves. And they all look and act like clones. Modern drivers that you can see in series all around the World. They are from the same mould all of them.

Sebastien Loeb was a real refreshement from that. Without even knowing anything about him you can tell that racing carrer was his own choice and not his father's

[BRG]

Well, here is the (Google translated hence the shonky English) bit from Seb's own website about his early years.   

 

CHILDHOODÉBASTIEN, ... IN 1974!

Sportsman in the soul, Sébastien is since young. From 3 years, he practices gymnastics in the tradition of his father, former champion of the discipline. Very quickly, he continues the competitions and forges himself a solid track record during his 12 years of practice: 4 times champion of Alsace and 1 time champion of the Grand Est, 5th in the French Championship. In parallel, it does not miss an opportunity to "race": whether in tricycle, bike or a little later in the rental of mini-motorcycles, on holiday. And every time, it's in front of him that he wants to be ...As far as studying is concerned, it does honor to its teaching parents by following an exemplary schooling ... until first time. Because a new center of interest grabbed Sébastien: his moped and races between teens that punctuate his weeks. 

"Special roundabout", "Grand Prix des Vignes", Sébastien and his playmates are inventing daring challenges to the delight of their right wrist and the misfortune of riparian ears. He does some official cyclo races where he stands out when his horse does not betray him. Sportsman in the soul yes, already a competitor too.

FIRST WHEEL TURNS

Sebastian left high school. He wanted something concrete and found it when he graduated as a building electrician. As soon as he starts working, his entire income is absorbed by the object of his dreams: a Supercinq GT Turbo. Tire trains are dying after 2,500 km and his license is more often at the prefecture than in his pocket!

His apprenticeship in piloting begins and reveals innate qualities. Sébastien tortures some GTI before stumbling on an ad presenting the detection operation "Young Rally". 
We are in 1995. Sébastien is 21 years old and rattles the drawers to find the 100 francs needed for registration.He won the regional selection and then the final of Castellet, but his closest competitor (Nicolas Bernardi), who passes the test at nightfall, is declared the winner. 
He failed again in the final in 1996. No matter: Sebastien is now sure of his speed and his abilities. It remains only the most difficult: find the budget to get started.

AT THE RALLY SCHOOL

Seb with R. Mammosser and D. Heintz In Alsace, the young man's drive and motivation did not go unnoticed. Two passionate drivers, Dominique Heintz, a rider in his spare time, and Rémi Mammosser welcome him to their team "Ambition Sport Auto" with a unique goal: to put the foot in the stirrup of the promising driver. A capital meeting ...

1997. They seek the funds, find a car. Dominique Heintz calls Sebastian: "you run in 15 days in a regional event and I will be your co-driver." 
A new duo is born! First rally, first victory. "Either it's crazy or it's a genius" says Dominique Heintz who gives way to co-driver, the time for Sebastian to scare another. 
This will be the only regional race of Ambition-Sport-Auto that gets into the national "Flying 106" where Sébastien wins the 4 races he runs in the category "1300" before "skipping a class" to continue with 2 events in "1600" where he walks hard.At the end of these 6 races, the magazine "Escapement" the Best Hope of the Year.It is this same season, at the end of the Cévennes rally, that a new couple is created: Loeb - Elena. 

In 1998, the team tackled the Saxo Kit Car Trophy. Sébastien wins all the events he finishes, but the learning is also painful: two cars destroyed and finances in agony for Ambition Sport Auto.

He wins the trophy hands down in 1999. Still an amateur, Sébastien impresses observers and especially his competitors ... 
In fact, the FFSA integrates with the French Rally Team and allows him to discover the world during three rallies. Result: Sebastian goes out in Catalonia, but wins his category in Corsica and San-Remo.

In early 2000, the finances are a little short but Ambition Sport Auto hires him for a test of the Championship of France on land with a Saxo Kit Car rented for the occasion.

Appraisal: victory in 2 wheel drive and especially, entry on the scene of Citroën that finances the second event, just to get closer to this driver which we hear that praise.

New victory and big step forward: two patrons of the rally, Jean-Pierre Champeau and Frédéric Schmitt, with Citroën, take over the rest of the program. Sébastien becomes Champion of France.

 

 

His first sporting interest was gymnastics, which was perhaps encouraged by his parents.  But he was also mucking about with bikes competitively and, like many French youngsters, he clearly also arsed about on a 49cc moped which I think in France you can ride from 14 yrs. So no karting, but then, if his interest was in rallying, karts might have seemed an irrelevance.  

 

When I was actively into rallying, nobody was going karting, except for the odd 'fun kart' race, because all our focus - and money - was on rallying.  Seb seems to have been the same and spent his first wage packets on a Renault 5 GT Turbo in which it sounds like he was hooning round the lanes and getting in trouble with the law!  Then he got into rally school and the rest is history.

 

This upbringing on two wheels and then four is the traditional way. The idea that everyone has to race karts from age 8 is all very well for racing drivers but does little to develop rally drivers.  

Edited by BRG, 13 June 2019 - 18:25.

[BiggestBuddyLazierFan]

Well, here is the (Google translated hence the shonky English) bit from Seb's own website about his early years.

CHILDHOODÉBASTIEN, ... IN 1974!
Sportsman in the soul, Sébastien is since young. From 3 years, he practices gymnastics in the tradition of his father, former champion of the discipline. Very quickly, he continues the competitions and forges himself a solid track record during his 12 years of practice: 4 times champion of Alsace and 1 time champion of the Grand Est, 5th in the French Championship. In parallel, it does not miss an opportunity to "race": whether in tricycle, bike or a little later in the rental of mini-motorcycles, on holiday. And every time, it's in front of him that he wants to be ...As far as studying is concerned, it does honor to its teaching parents by following an exemplary schooling ... until first time. Because a new center of interest grabbed Sébastien: his moped and races between teens that punctuate his weeks.
"Special roundabout", "Grand Prix des Vignes", Sébastien and his playmates are inventing daring challenges to the delight of their right wrist and the misfortune of riparian ears. He does some official cyclo races where he stands out when his horse does not betray him. Sportsman in the soul yes, already a competitor too.
FIRST WHEEL TURNS
Sebastian left high school. He wanted something concrete and found it when he graduated as a building electrician. As soon as he starts working, his entire income is absorbed by the object of his dreams: a Supercinq GT Turbo. Tire trains are dying after 2,500 km and his license is more often at the prefecture than in his pocket!
His apprenticeship in piloting begins and reveals innate qualities. Sébastien tortures some GTI before stumbling on an ad presenting the detection operation "Young Rally".
We are in 1995. Sébastien is 21 years old and rattles the drawers to find the 100 francs needed for registration.He won the regional selection and then the final of Castellet, but his closest competitor (Nicolas Bernardi), who passes the test at nightfall, is declared the winner.
He failed again in the final in 1996. No matter: Sebastien is now sure of his speed and his abilities. It remains only the most difficult: find the budget to get started.
AT THE RALLY SCHOOL
Seb with R. Mammosser and D. Heintz In Alsace, the young man's drive and motivation did not go unnoticed. Two passionate drivers, Dominique Heintz, a rider in his spare time, and Rémi Mammosser welcome him to their team "Ambition Sport Auto" with a unique goal: to put the foot in the stirrup of the promising driver. A capital meeting ...
1997. They seek the funds, find a car. Dominique Heintz calls Sebastian: "you run in 15 days in a regional event and I will be your co-driver."
A new duo is born! First rally, first victory. "Either it's crazy or it's a genius" says Dominique Heintz who gives way to co-driver, the time for Sebastian to scare another.
This will be the only regional race of Ambition-Sport-Auto that gets into the national "Flying 106" where Sébastien wins the 4 races he runs in the category "1300" before "skipping a class" to continue with 2 events in "1600" where he walks hard.At the end of these 6 races, the magazine "Escapement" the Best Hope of the Year.It is this same season, at the end of the Cévennes rally, that a new couple is created: Loeb - Elena.
In 1998, the team tackled the Saxo Kit Car Trophy. Sébastien wins all the events he finishes, but the learning is also painful: two cars destroyed and finances in agony for Ambition Sport Auto.
He wins the trophy hands down in 1999. Still an amateur, Sébastien impresses observers and especially his competitors ...
In fact, the FFSA integrates with the French Rally Team and allows him to discover the world during three rallies. Result: Sebastian goes out in Catalonia, but wins his category in Corsica and San-Remo.
In early 2000, the finances are a little short but Ambition Sport Auto hires him for a test of the Championship of France on land with a Saxo Kit Car rented for the occasion.
Appraisal: victory in 2 wheel drive and especially, entry on the scene of Citroën that finances the second event, just to get closer to this driver which we hear that praise.
New victory and big step forward: two patrons of the rally, Jean-Pierre Champeau and Frédéric Schmitt, with Citroën, take over the rest of the program. Sébastien becomes Champion of France.


His first sporting interest was gymnastics, which was perhaps encouraged by his parents. But he was also mucking about with bikes competitively and, like many French youngsters, he clearly also arsed about on a 49cc moped which I think in France you can ride from 14 yrs. So no karting, but then, if his interest was in rallying, karts might have seemed an irrelevance.

When I was actively into rallying, nobody was going karting, except for the odd 'fun kart' race, because all our focus - and money - was on rallying. Seb seems to have been the same and spent his first wage packets on a Renault 5 GT Turbo in which it sounds like he was hooning round the lanes and getting in trouble with the law! Then he got into rally school and the rest is history.

This upbringing on two wheels and then four is the traditional way. The idea that everyone has to race karts from age 8 is all very well for racing drivers but does little to develop rally drivers.

That begs another question; is karting really that relevant!?

Seb showed that he can win in circuit racing aswell.

And there are thousands and thousands karting drivers whose parents spent hundereds of thousands of euros that never acomplished anything.

Im starting to beleive that karting as a necesety is a myth. That you can develop a fine driver without karting.

And I also think that karting became overcomplicated post 100cc ICA, thus lost its puropse. KF and later OK are horrible classes for driver developement because of ever present factory teams. Its not learning tool anymore. Its F1 without dampers and diff

[Cavalier53]

Concerning our subject Loeb: I seem to recall reading he had quite a ... let's call it ... difficult upbringing. And has overcome it. Someone should be able to confirm or find the story?

 

As far as karting is concerned: for a long time, I believed Tom Coronel was the last top notch driver (F Nippon, then WTC) that did not start in karting. But now it seems Job van Uitert, who was shining in LMP2 at Le Mans, at just 20 years of age, does not have any serious karting background.

 

That would be great news: youngsters can start a serious racing career without a karting career starting 10 years old or earlier.

Rik Breukers and Jamie Chadwick also come to mind.

[BiggestBuddyLazierFan]

I beleive that karting is "monkey see monkey do syndrome" Somehow it became mainstream path to the motorsports. But I do not think it can produce a complete driver. Only asphalt circuit drivers. And that is questonable too. Loeb was destroying ex karters in WTCC after a long WRC carrer. Nobody managed to do anything remotely close vice versa from circuit asphalt to rally. Kubica tried rallying and failed. Raikkonen tried and failed. Vale Rossi (ex karter before his mororcycle carrer) also failed.

Edited by BiggestBuddyLazierFan, 21 June 2019 - 19:45.