Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz join forces with PH-Sport

Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz join forces with PH-Sport

Posted: November 29, 2009 6:57 PM

The bond that has existed between Sébastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz and PH- Sport since 1997 is poised to take a fresh turn, since Sébastien and Dominique have decided to join forces with PH-Sport with a view to taking the adventure to new heights.

Sébastien Loeb's collaboration with the Haute Marne-based rally tuning specialist dates back to the preparation of the Frenchman's Peugeot 106 Rallye in 1997, before continuing successfully over the ensuing years and culminating in the 2001 Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) title with the Citroën Saxo Kit-Car. Since then, the two parties have remained in close contact, with Sébastien regularly competing at the wheel of PH-Sport- prepared cars. And while the Alsace-born driver focused on notching up six consecutive crowns with Citroën in the World Rally Championship, PH-Sport was busy taking its score to three JWRC titles (2001, 2002 and 2008). Indeed, the combination of the two parties' varying experiences at the sport's highest level promises to be one of the key strengths of the new association.

"I am delighted to be associated in this adventure with Bernard Piallat and Dominique Heintz," enthuses Sébastien Loeb. "I see it as an exciting opportunity for my personal future in motor sport. I'm not yet thinking in terms of retiring, but it's something I need to start planning for! I chose PH-Sport because I know it is a very competent and highly professional operation. The combined experience of Bernard Piallat, his team, Dominique Heintz – thanks to whom I first became involved in rallying – and myself will enable PH-Sport to play a part in helping upcoming drivers, for example."

Said Dominique Heintz, who played a big role during Sébastien Loeb's first steps in motor sport: "Today's announcement is the coming to fruition of a project that goes back some time. Our collaboration with Bernard Piallat began by chance on the 1997 Rallye des Vins- Mâcon and started with him running Sébastien's 106 before he became our technical partner in the days of the Saxo Kit-Car. We have shared some memorable moments together, but we have been through some very complex times, too. Our association is now poised to continue in another form. I have always wanted to see Sébastien take over one day and invest in a structure that will be able to help young drivers. Between the three of us, we will do our best to provide the best possible package to ambitious youngsters looking to climb the motor sport ladder."

"The adventure is going to continue," notes Bernard Piallat. "Today's association is the fruit of the mutual confidence that has grown up between us. We started out together and we began to grow together, but then our paths separated, albeit in parallel directions. We never lost contact, however, and I am extremely happy that Sébastien and Dominique have decided to join forces with us. We all share the same determination to invest in motor sport and we intend to pool our respective expertise with a view to grooming motivated young drivers and helping them steer clear of certain errors."