Experiencing the Rally Thrills with Sébastien Loeb in the Car: My Test Video for You

Invited by a partner of the Alsatian driver, ten “co-drivers for a day” have the chance to ride alongside Sébastien Loeb to experience a mini-rally special on the heights of the Bruche valley (Bas-Rhin). I was part of it.

“Would you like to do a report on motorsport enthusiasts drawn to drive with Sébastien Loeb? There’s a place for you in the car…” A dream for enthusiasts, for me, a unique opportunity to live a unique experience. And to be able to tell it.

I’m more of a two-wheeler than a fan of big cars. But I covered with pleasure ten years ago the five rallies of France-Alsace (2010-2014), stages of the WRC world championship. Lived the 7th title of world champion won in 2010 by the Alsatian, at home in Haguenau, then his 9th and last in 2012. And discovered a fervor on the roadside equivalent to that of the Tour de France cyclist. Also met endearing people, ready to do anything to cross paths with “Seb”, the idol of discipline, whom everyone calls so, with an admiration tinged with affection.

So I measure the chance that is offered to me. A little more when I arrive at the meeting place: the path of Stampoumont, a small hamlet near Ranrupt, on the heights of the Bruche valley. The weather is nice and mild, the view is beautiful and clear. THE Sebastien Loeb Racingwho took charge of the organization of the event at the request of the company Vulcanetpartner of the nine-time WRC world champion, has set up a tent to welcome its guests for the day.

And among them, the luckiest, the 10 people who will ride alongside Loeb: 3 journalists, 3 guests and 4 people drawn at random following a competition. While the driver’s technicians are busy around the 306 maxi, the most mythical rally car of the Alsatian, explain to me the connoisseurs, the emotion and the excitement are already palpable.

I feel like I won the lottery!

Rodolphe Kippelen, “co-pilot” for a day

“Seb” arrived by private helicopter, as often when he participates in this type of event. He landed right next to the start of the “special” where the baptisms will take place. The road has been closed for the occasion, volunteers provide security, as during a real race.

For the moment, the champion drinks a coffee, greets the small assembly, discusses with his team. The eyes shine. “I feel like I won the lottery, it’s indescribable how I feel”, explains this Colmarien to me, who admits to me, with tears in his eyes, crying regularly with happiness since he received the phone call informing him that he was one of the selected “co-pilots for a day”. Another came from Montauban on purpose, “I would have covered the 750 terminals on foot if I had had to!” All are true enthusiasts, of course, follow motor sports on TV, some drive a little, especially on circuits.

So I let myself be won over by the general enthusiasm. And by a slight apprehension at the sound of the racing car accelerating up to us as the champion recognizes the route: a little more than two kilometers on a road a few meters wide, in the middle of the forest, which we will travel back and forth .

I’ll be the second to get in the passenger seat. I put on a jumpsuit and find myself almost needing to concentrate a little. However, I will only be a simple passenger, no need – and fortunately! – to read notes like a real co-pilot. And this will be one of my big thoughts later, in the car: how do they manage to stay immersed in the instructions to be transmitted without getting sick?

Because that’s one of my fears: that my stomach can’t stand being tossed about in all directions and that I’ll end up regretting the coffee I swallowed in the morning. My predecessor in the bucket, also a journalist, seems to have tolerated the experience well. So much the better.

I put on my helmet, sit in the seat, to which I’m attached very tightly. The belt tightens me, my helmet muffles the noises, even those of the engine. A few souvenir photos and I hear a voice in my headset. It takes me a moment to realize that it is Sébastien Loeb who is trying to check that we are well connected by microphones and earpieces. “Can you hear me? Sometimes they forget to turn on the sound…”

I hear him perfectly, present myself quickly, and here we are ready to leave. The first acceleration is really dizzying. My hands tighten, secured to the seat, where I naturally found an anchor point to avoid flying on either side of the roll bar that surrounds me.

I who was wondering about the sensations I was going to feel, I am served as a starter. “Oh yes anyway” is the first thought that comes to me, and that I don’t say out loud. I refrain from speaking for a long time, wanting to avoid disturbing the pilot, he who, however, is obviously accustomed to the permanent indications of his co-pilot.

The turns are linked. On the left, pilot side, a ravine. To my right, the trees pass by. I have time to see a few people posted on the side of the road to provide security and take some photos. I almost get used to the speed, take the time to notice that Loeb is constantly working his sequential gearbox, braking and accelerating again. My head is bobbing, but ultimately less than I feared.

I take better and better the measure of what surrounds me that this is already the end of the course. U-turn in a controlled skid, and here we go again full pot on the climb. I dare my first words. “How high are we going there?” “We can pass the 170-180… I’m trying to memorize the route again, I’m really starting to get my bearings”. It’s the 4th passage of the morning for the champion on a road he tells me he doesn’t really remember. “It looks like we took it in the 2010 rally, but I can’t remember them all…”

It must be said that he knows a few in the area, he, the child of the country, who will tell me, later, come the time of the “official” interview at the end of the morning, that the pleasure of riding here remains intact. “It’s been a year since I drove the 306, I like to come back to these feelings… Rallying is what I’ve done all my life, I like it…

Sharing this pleasure with people whom I know are having an exceptional time, it’s nice for me too

Sébastien Loeb, nine-time WRC world rally champion

The climb continues at a pace that seems to me even faster than on the way out. Maybe because this time I’m on the ravine side? Anyway, I’m not afraid. And my stomach is holding up, phew. The last corners are there, I have the feeling of having fully observed, benefited. The approximately four minutes of this very small stage seemed to me to last long enough for me to savor the moment.

I rode with a nine-time world rally champion. I am certainly not knowledgeable enough to, like some other privileged people of the day, have been able to measure the formidable mechanics of this car. But I obviously appreciated the incredible dexterity of the pilot.

His closeness also with his fans. He has just chained a dozen passages at 170 km / h in the forest, the routine of course, but he then takes the time to sign autographs, take photos, listen, answer questions. It does the job, yes, public relations is part of it. But when he tells us that he enjoys it, we want to believe him. And he offered us a huge share.