Sebastien Loeb, though scruffy, is a successful driver. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Top motor rally official Morrie Chandler won't be seeking rule changes to make drivers spruce up, but he does think four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb looks "scruffy".
Chandler, the New Zealander who is World Rally Championship commission president, didn't back away yesterday from his criticism of the Frenchman's
appearance, but said it was a private opinion.
"At the end of the day, it's a personal view," he said.
"I think he looks scruffy, but if he wants to look scruffy, that's his business."
Chandler made his views known in an exchange of emails with Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports chairman Surinder Thatthi.
The correspondence between the pair, both International Automobile Federation members, occurred in March and was revealed by French daily Le Figaro.
Chandler said Thatthi sent him an email after watching coverage of Rally Mexico, which Loeb won.
"He mentioned how disappointed he was at the appearance of Sebastien and how he always looked bloody scruffy," he said.
"I said, yes, he doesn't present a good image. Maybe we need to take long-range photographs of him in future."
Chandler said the matter had not been referred to the FIA.
He hadn't received any reaction from Loeb, but Loeb's Citroen team boss, Olivier Quesnel, did touch on the matter last month when Chandler was at the Jordan Rally.
"He was saying, 'I know you think he looks scruffy, but that's the way he is'," Chandler said.
Loeb has been a regular at the New Zealand Rally, winning in 2005, and he will be back again for this year's event in August.
Chandler was expecting to catch up with him before then and was preparing for a bit of banter.
- NZPA
