The nine-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb will return to the World Rallycross (RX) championship this year, driving an electric version of the Lancia Delta Integrale for Special ONE Racing. He will race alongside Guerlain Chicherit, the founder of Special ONE Racing, in a two-car lineup. Loeb had previously contested in the category between 2016-18 and won two events.

Loeb revealed that his weakness for the iconic Delta Integrale was the reason behind his return. He had grown up watching the car win rallies in the 1990s and was won over by the dynamic qualities of Special ONE’s electric version after a test drive at the end of last year. Loeb said that he had great faith in the project and was excited to champion it on tracks around the world.

Loeb expressed his motivation for the challenge and said that rallycross was the ideal discipline for electrification because the races are short, and the cars have a lot of power. He also noted that the World RX is the perfect platform to promote the evolution of electric cars.

Special ONE Racing has committed to running cars in World RX for at least three seasons. It retrofits and sells classic cars with all-electric drivetrains, including the Integrale-based Delta Evo-e that the team is running in World RX. Chicherit said that it was a dream to align two cars from his brand with World RX, with one being entrusted to a sporting legend.