World Rally Championship

30th November 2006

With a third consecutive World Rally Championship already in the bag, Sebastien Loeb has chosen not to risk his injured shoulder in the Welsh forests on the Rally GB.

The Frenchman (image) has missed the past three WRC rounds, and had hoped to give his Citroen Xsara a fitting send-off by contesting this week’s event.

But with nothing at stake, he has opted for caution instead. “I’m getting my strength back little by little, but I’m still not 100 per cent,” he admitted. “I can’t afford to compromise winter testing or even the start of next season by risking further injury.”