Citroen has confirmed Sebastien Loeb will not make his World Rally Championship return in Monte Carlo next year, but could enter Rally Mexico.
Loeb, who won nine successive WRC titles between 2004 and 2012, tested a Citroen C4 on asphalt and gravel earlier this year.
The Frenchman will continue to race in the World Rallycross Championship for Peugeot as well as competing in its final Dakar Rally.
Loeb is keen on a return to the WRC on a part-time basis, originally pencilled in for the season opener in Monte Carlo despite it starting less than a week after Dakar.
However, speaking to Autosport, Citroen team principal Yves Matton has ruled Loeb returning as early as Monte.
“We are in discussions with him for next year,” he said.
“The only thing we know – and we decided this together – is that he won’t be in Monte Carlo.
“It’s too difficult with the Dakar, but it doesn’t mean he will not appear next year – we are in discussions.
“We have to finalise this looking to a global view of what will be our drivers next year.”
Matton said he’s expecting to announce the team’s 2018 plans by the end of the year.
“It’s still too early to talk about the line-up for next season,” added Matton.
“We will confirm this in the next weeks. It’s not finalised and it’s not possible for me to announce drivers or our targets for next year.”
Citroen finished fourth and last in the teams’ championship after an incredibly difficult season, riddled with reliability woes and car set-up issues.
