The youngest of its competitors were not born in 1999 when Loeb started in the premier class.

They were barely walking when the Alsatian won his first rally in 2002. Twenty years later, the nine-time world champion (2004-2012) is still there, at the forefront.

Since his last title, Loeb has returned intermittently to his core discipline.

Absent in 2021, after only two rallies in 2020, the one who will celebrate his 48th birthday on February 26 is back for at least this opening rally of the season, the first with hybrid engines.

A week after finishing 2nd in the Dakar in Saudi Arabia, he is in the Principality to win: after eight stages out of 17, he leads the way with 9.9 seconds ahead of defending champion Sébastien Ogier.

"I like the car, I can do pretty much what I want with it. We pushed hard, we set some times and we're in the lead. I didn't expect so much, so I'm happy" , acknowledged Loeb, winner of four stages (SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6), although he complained of a problem with his hybrid unit in SS7.

Is the luxury freelancer surprised by his pace?

"I was surprised to set the fastest time in the + shakedown + (tune-up Thursday morning, editor's note). But with this car I was directly on the pace so it's a good surprise."

Sébastien Ogier at the wheel of his hybrid Toyota before the start of the Monte-Carlo rally in Monaco, January 20, 2022 Valery HACHE AFP

"It's back a bit like back in the day: when I know I've done a good stage, the time is there. I've had times when it wasn't, but there with this car , when I'm really good, we see it", he appreciated.

Record from 1990

Loeb is contesting his 181st WRC rally, the first with M-Sport Ford, and is aiming for an 80th victory.

The last dates back to October 2018 in Catalonia.

He was then 44 years and eight months old, becoming the third winner with the most candles on the clock.

This time, at 47 years and ten months, he would be the oldest.

The record of Swede Björn Waldegard, who won the Safari Rally in Kenya in 1990 at the age of 46 years and five months, may be living its last hours.

And for the moment, only one man seems to be able to prevent it: none other than Ogier, eight times champion since last year.

"I'm happy to finish this day in the lead but it's not a big gap", recognizes moreover Loeb, engaged with a new co-driver, Isabelle Galmiche.

Elfyn Evans (Toyota), 3rd at 22 seconds, is still in the game, while Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), 4th, is already at 47.8 seconds.

Like Loeb, Ogier has changed co-driver (Benjamin Veillas replaces Julien Ingrassia).

And like Loeb, he is preparing to leave the WRC.

He will only do a few rallies this year, and could be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as early as 2022, according to a program he is due to announce in early February.

"This morning I remained quite cautious, but this afternoon I really attacked. For the moment, we cannot be faster, we lack stability and traction", he summarized.

Back flip for Sébastien Loeb in front of his team to celebrate his last success in the WRC during the Catalonia Rally in Salou, October 28, 2018 PAU BARRENA AFP / Archives

On Loeb's performance, "there is nothing to say, it's remarkable as always, but it's never a surprise again, we're used to it", applauded Ogier.

The duel promised to be enticing between the two biggest winners of the rally.

He is.

And the fans were not mistaken: they blacken the roadsides, carmine the roadway with smoke bombs and light up the night with fireworks.

© 2022 AFP