Surprise Turnaround: Loeb Could Line Up for Monte Carlo Rally

Contrary to Sébastien Loeb's recent comments regarding Rallye Monte-Carlo 2027, the nine-time world champion could make a surprise appearance at the World Rally Championship's curtain-raiser in January. The French motorsport legend recently tested a prototype for Project Rally One—one of the WRC's incoming teams—in France, before downplaying expectations of a Monte Carlo entry next year due to his primary focus on rally-raid competition.

However, whispers emerging from within Project Rally One indicate that if the 2027 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is compromised by Middle Eastern conflict and Houthi missile strikes on Saudi territory, Loeb could be lined up for a start in Monte Carlo instead.

The outfit explained that securing Loeb's services in their challenger remains top priority for team boss Lionel Hansen. The car has yet to be officially named or badged by a manufacturer; during test runs, the prototype's chassis resembled a Porsche Macan, driven by a Škoda-derived Rally2 powertrain.

The final decision from Loeb and Project Rally One hinges on steps taken by Dakar organizers ASO and Saudi authorities regarding the desert raid. Meanwhile, Hansen signaled that he anticipates backing from the new WRC promoter and boss Éric Boullier to help put one of only two nine-time world champions in rallying history on the entry list for the sport's showpiece event.

Fellow multi-time world champion Sébastien Ogier has already confirmed he will skip Rallye Monte-Carlo next year, stating that 2027 will likely see him compete on "an even more restricted schedule."

The 2027 WRC campaign will introduce overhauled technical regulations, transitioning top-tier Rally1 cars onto the current Rally2 platform. Toyota, Project Rally One, and Spanish outfit RMC Motorsport are already building cars to these specifications, with further Rally2 teams expected to join the fold.