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Nine-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb has tested Belgian outfit Project Rally One's WRC27-spec prototype, according to local media reports. In recent years, the Frenchman has stepped back from full-time WRC competition, focusing primarily on his World Rally-Raid Championship commitments with Dacia alongside select appearances in the French Rally Championship.
Lionel Hansen's project is currently the most advanced in preparation for the 2027 technical regulations. The team aims to enter the new car in January's Rallye Monte-Carlo, with homologation paperwork set to be submitted ahead of the November 1 deadline this year.
Earlier this year, Hansen revealed efforts to recruit marquee names such as Loeb, Sébastien Ogier, and Ott Tänak to support the car's development. Loeb was the only driver to entertain the offer, telling Hansen that while he wasn't ruling it out, he "wanted to be convinced" before committing.
Ahead of Loeb's test, the Belgian outfit called upon experienced WRC competitors Stéphane Lefebvre, Bruno Thiry, and Freddy Loix for asphalt duties, while newly crowned European Rally Champion Teemu Suninen handled gravel running alongside his testing commitments with Lancia.
The Project Rally One prototype is powered by a Škoda engine and features early-stage bodywork based on the Porsche Macan.
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