Confidence in the car was questioned after the Citreon rally team failed to place a podium finish for the first time in three years last week in Sweden.
Although Loeb's team-mate, Sebastien Ogier placed fourth with Petter Solberg following in fifth giving them a combined nine fastest stage times out of a possible 22.
“I feel happy to finish because this was a very long and difficult rally. I’m also satisfied with the performance of our car even though our rally was not so good.” stated Loeb, winner of seven rally championships for Citreon.
Unveiled in Janurary, the new DS3 follows, Loebs previous rally car the C4, aswell as the Xsara.
Sebastien Loeb has confessed that the car will be a new challenge for him. "The DS3's shorter so it's more agile in the corners, but it's also twitchier in the faster sections."
Loeb believes that the DS3 will require a lot more work behind the steering wheel compared to his reliable C4, which saw him through many wins at the world rally championships.
Ogier and Loeb do see the potential of the DS3 WRC however, following the event-closing Power Stage, where they gained the first and second fastest times in which bonus points were awarded to the quickest three drivers.Citroen Racing chief Olivier Quesnel believes that the reason for Citreon's performance in Sweden was down to the specific surfaces which they were required to race on. "Let’s wait for the first stages on gravel to have a better idea of each one’s potential.”
Citroen have not failed to finish without a placing a podium finish since the Sweden rally in 2008, when the podium was dominated by Ford focus drivers, Jari-Matti, Mikko Hirvone and Gigi Galli.
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