Bahrain Raid Xtreme driver Sebastien Loeb tests his car’s performance in Dubai.

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

The most decorated driver in Word Rally Championship with a record nine world titles – all won in a row between 2004 and 2012 – French legend Sebastien Loeb still has some unfinished business in the sport. At least, in the Dakar Rally.

Lesser mortals would be happy with two podium finishes in four attempts, but not Loeb and he has set his sights on winning that one major trophy still missing from his cabinet.  The Frenchman returns to action, behind the wheels of a swanky new drive, dressed in the colours of a brand new team: the Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX).

Representing the Kingdom of Bahrain, BRX will make their motorsport debut at the 2021 Dakar Rally with the launch of its official new motorsport team from the new season.

Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) is the nation’s latest foray into the motorsport world after its sovereign wealth fund, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), established Prodrive International — a joint venture with the world-leading British motorsport business, Prodrive.

Loeb, with more than twenty years of rally experience, has already participated in the Dakar on four occasions, finishing second in 2017 for Peugeot and third in 2019 as a privateer.

Loeb will drive BRX’s bespoke Dakar Rally T1 car — a four-wheel drive car, powered by a 3.5 litre turbo-charged petrol V6.

Speaking exclusively to Gulf Today, Loeb said: “Another car, another team and the goal is to win the Dakar Rally title with BRX. We are gearing up for the new challenge.

“I always enjoy taking part in the Dakar Rally, the whole adventurous part of the racing fascinates me. The objective of competing with BRX is to perform well and we will be looking for overall victory,” said the most successful driver in the WRC.

“BRX have got big ambitions for the 2021 Dakar Rally and I’m excited to be a part of the journey with the team. There is an immense amount of experience in each area of the team; the best in the field with Prodrive, a track record of success from David Richards, and Bahrain’s rich history in motorsport.”

Loeb’s bid for the title will not be easy as he faces tough challenge from reigning Dakar champion Carlos Sainz, record-breaking 13-time event winner Stephane Peterhansel and Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah, who took top spot in the rally thrice.

The 46-year-old, who has racked up 79 event wins in the World Rally Championship between 2004 – 2012, and his teammate Nani Roma, the 2014 Dakar champion, have been gearing up for the Dakar Rally and what could be a better place than the Dubai desert to put the finishing touches to their testing programme.

Giving final touches to the preparations, both the drivers are undertaking a gruelling test programme of the BRX T1 4x4 in Dubai.

The bespoke BRX vehicle — which will compete in the top level T1 class — was tested to extremes across uncompromising desert conditions that included steep dunes, thick camel grass and barren, rocky terrain.

Loeb and Roma conducted 15 days of testing in the Dubai, where they completed more than 3,800km without major problems.

“Dubai has given us the opportunity to test the car in similar terrain to that we can expect at the Dakar in Saudi Arabia. I am happy with the car’s performance and balance, but having already competed in Dakar four times, we do not underestimate the challenge the Dakar presents, especially to a new team and new car. We are looking forward to getting under way in just three weeks,” said Loeb.

Roma has competed in 24 Dakar Rallies – not having missed an event since 1996. He competed for the first nine years on a bike, claiming victory in 2004, before switching disciplines to compete in cars – taking his second Dakar victory in 2014. This makes the 48-year-old Roma one of only three people to ever win in the Dakar on both two and four wheels.

Roma, who joined BRX from German manufacturer team Borgward, said: “I have spent almost a month in Dubai testing the BRX T1 4x4, and each day we are pushing the limits even more. As a team, we have done many kilometres and are really excited with how the car is reacting to the dunes.

“The whole team have been working hard and are all highly motivated. It has been great working with Sebastien, he is an experienced driver and we understand each other well,” he added.

The Dakar Rally will be held for the second year in a row in Saudi Arabia from Jan.3 to Jan.15, 2021. It will start from Jeddah and cross a distance of 7,646 km, passing through Bisha, Wadi Al Dawasir, Riyadh, Buraidah, Hail, Sakaka, Neom, Al-Ula, and Yanbu before reaching the finish line in Jeddah again on Jan.15.