Home advantage for Loeb

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb returns to the scene where he started his career when he targets an unprecedented seventh consecutive world title at the Rallye de France at the weekend.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb returns to the scene where he started his career when he targets an unprecedented seventh consecutive world title at the Rallye de France at the weekend.

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The rally, which used to take place in Corsica, has been moved to the Alsace region, where the Citroen rider was born.

"I raced in several events in the region at the start of my career at the end of the 1990's," Loeb told the Citroen website (www.citroen-wrc.com).

"The start of the Firstplan stage for example, corresponds to the very first stage that I competed in the 1997 Florival Rally.

"I remember the sectors of the Alsace-Vosges Rally pretty well, in particular near Chatas."

Loeb, searching for a 60th victory on Sunday, could clinch the title with second place if compatriot and team mate Sebastien Ogier fails to finish in the top four. He has 201 points in the world championship standings to Ogier's 158 with three rallies left.