Loeb unsure what to expect from WRC return in Portugal

The nine-time WRC champion will return to rallying’s top tier for the first time since beating rival Sebastien Ogier to score an 80th career win at the Monte Carlo season opener in January, in what was a one-off outing.

Loeb has since secured a fresh deal to contest the first gravel rally of the season in an M-Sport Ford Puma at Portugal, where he will join a field of 12 Rally1 hybrid machines, including eight-time champion Ogier, who resumes his part-time campaign with Toyota.

Loeb instantly gelled with the Puma on asphalt in Monte Carlo but a first gravel rally for the Rally1 cars is set to provide a new challenge for the drivers.

The Frenchman and co-driver Isabelle Galmiche have been able to complete a pre-event test in Portugal and Loeb is hopeful he won’t be far from the podium places.

The 48-year-old heads to Portugal after contesting the DTM curtain raiser also held in Portugal at Portimao earlier this month, where he finished 16th and 18th in the races.

“The first feeling in the Puma on gravel at our test was quite good, I was quite happy with the feeling I had as we worked on the suspension and the differential setups,” said Loeb, who is also set to participate in the WRC’s 50th season celebrations this weekend.

“Only one day of testing isn’t a lot when it’s the first time you are driving a car on gravel, but at the end I was happy with the feeling I had.

“My goal will be to find a rhythm as quickly as possible, hopefully I will be in a good rhythm to fight at the front, if I could be not far from the podium that would be a good performance.

“The challenges of Rally de Portugal for me will be that I am fourth on the road, road cleaning is always a challenge in this kind of rally if it is dry.

“I don’t really know what to expect there so we need to do a good first day, and for the rest we will see where we are.”

Loeb will drive one of five…