Citroën bosses are unlikely to persuade Sébastien Loeb to replace the sacked Kris Meeke in their WRC team on a regular basis.
The nine-time WRC champion said he lacks "the motivation" to commit to more 2018 outings. Loeb has already contested two WRC events for Citroën so far this year – his first for three years – and is scheduled for one further outing on Rally Catalunya, in October.
Currently a World RX Championship driver for Peugeot (like Citroën, part of the PSA empire) has already nixed any suggestion that he could contest he Deutschland Rallye, in August and repeated that he would not reconsider his WRC programme following Meeke's departure.
"I am working in WRX now,” he said after hearing about Meeke’s departure. “I don't want to do this and WRC, I don't have the motivation for that.
"Nothing changes because Meeke isn't driving for Citroën. I don't want to put more rallies in the calendar, I want to be calmer. Already I'm competing in WRX every two weeks and then we have tests and promotion commitments. Nothing changes for me. I will do Spain, like we planned, but that's it."
However, he admitted that he might help with Citroën’s test and development programme, adding: “Maybe I can help with a test or something. Maybe this is possible, but so far this isn't something we have spoken about."
He confirmed that his 2019 Peugeot WRX deal is not yet in place, but said: "We are talking about it and this is the priority."
Meanwhile, Citroën could allow Craig Breen and Mads Østberg – whose final outing of 2018 is currently Rally Sardinia – to see out the season as its two main drivers. Team principal Pierre Budar said Sardinia would give the team the chance to asses that option.
"Let's see what happens in Sardinia. We have to be careful; it's not an easy position for them. If we want them to lead the team it can be quite difficult for them. We didn't decide what to do for the next rallies [after Sardinia]. We will have to make a decision for Finland before the end of June. We have a few options – not many, but a few."
He also said that the decision to axe Meeke was "not linked" to suggestions Citroën could soon exit the WRC.
