Sebastien Loeb has admitted that a strong offer from Volkswagen made a decision on his future in the World Rally Championship difficult.
Loeb confirmed he would be staying with current employer Citroen – with whom he has won all seven of his world titles – for two more years last week. The 37-year-old Frenchman said, however, that his decision has been made difficult following a meeting with Volkswagen's motorsport director Kris Nissen and the firm's adviser and double world champion Carlos Sainz to talk through a potential switch.
"When I spoke to Kris and Carlos, they were motivated," said Loeb. "They pushed hard and did a good job to try and get me.
"Then the decision was between the two manufacturers: Citroen and Volkswagen. The challenge to go to Volkswagen was also exciting, they were pushing quite hard that I come to join them. It was something new, a new challenge. I was quite interested."
In the end, Loeb remained at Citroen following the intervention of PSA Peugeot Citroen member of the management board Jean-Marc Gales.
Loeb added: "If you take everything in my mind for one year of competition [with VW], I would break the relationship with Citroen that I have been building for 10 years. Our image is really linked, Citroen and me. If it had been for more than one year, maybe it's something I could consider more – but for one year, it's not the right choice to do."