Sebastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz join forces with PH-Sport
The bond that has existed between Sebastien Loeb and Dominique Heintz and PH-
Sport since 1997 is poised to take a fresh turn, since Sebastien and Dominique have
decided to join forces with PH-Sport with a view to taking the adventure to new
heights.
Sebastien 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 Citroen Saxo Kit-Car. Since then, the two parties have
remained in close contact, with Sebastien regularly competing at the wheel of PH-Sport-
prepared cars. And while the Alsace-born driver focused on notching up six consecutive
crowns with Citroen 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 Sebastien 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 Sebastien 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-
Mācon and started with him running Sebastien'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 Sebastien 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 Sebastien 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."
-credit: ph sport
