Seb: It's a mistake to get rid of run-flat mousse.

Three-time world rally champion, Sebastien Loeb has urged the powers that be in the WRC to reconsider getting rid of run-flat mousse.

Loeb believes that while most of the changes being made to the sport should help it grow in the coming years, he isn't convinced that the decision to get rid of the mousse in tyres, something that helps stop punctures, is necessarily a good idea. Indeed he reckons that in terms of safety, for both the competing crews and the spectators at the edge of the stages, it is definitely a step backwards.

"The decisions taken by the ISC are working and taking the sport in the right direction," Seb told his personal website, www.sebastienloeb.com. "Some things are bad though, getting rid run-flat mousse [from 2008] is damn stupid for example. It is vital to have this for safety - without it you might go off and that is dangerous for the crews and spectators. I do not understand this decision.

"Going to mechanical differentials on the other hand though makes sense. We shouldn't forget that rallying is meant to be a spectacle.

"We will have to wait and see what else happens in the future on this front [and if run-flat mousse is banned in 2008], but I hope that common sense prevails."

As for the current number of manufacturers' competing in the WRC, Loeb added that while it didn't really look good at the start of 2006, the season did turn out reasonably well in the end. He knows though that if more manufacturers' are to enter the sport then the costs of competing has to be lowered. Thus far, six 'Manufacturer Teams' have entered to compete in 2007, although three are backed in one way or another by Ford.

"With the exit of Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Citroen - and only the partial presence of Skoda, 2006 did not begin well. For me though, the duel with Marcus [Gronholm] was fascinating. We really had to fight to beat him, but that was good for the sport and it is necessary for the spectacle," continued Seb. "In 2007, Suzuki will arrive [for three events]. I hope that will encourage others to re-join.

"As regards the regulations, the objective for everyone is to reduce the costs. The investment needed by manufacturers' and the publicity generated by competing in the sport isn't enough though. The solution is to lower the costs and to try and increase the coverage the WRC gets so it is more worthwhile."