Is Sebastien Loeb going to be forced to get a hair cut? Two senior motorsport officials have expressed concerns over the Citroen rally champ's 'scruffy looks', and have suggested that he shouldn't be shown in close-up on television until he gets a bloody sensible short-back-and-sides.
In an email exchange in March, Surinder Thatthi (chairman of the Confederation of African Countries in Motorsports) and Morrie Chandler (president of the WRC Commission) both criticised Loeb's 'poor appearance'.
'He was unshaved, scruffy-looking and with unkempt hair!!' Thatthi wrote to Chandler. 'It is wrong when the FIA gives him global TV coverage to millions of viewers and to many children worldwide he is a hero and a role model...'
And so on. Chandler agrees. 'Of course these persons are an insult to real males,' he replied. No, really, he did. 'My only solution is that we suggest... that the camera does not cover them close up.'
Enlightened 21st century stuff there. Thankfully there's at least one voice of reason in the WRC: Simon Long (managing director of ISC, which holds the rights to the WRC) replied to Chandler, saying: 'I do feel that it is precisely Sebastien's "ruggedly good-looking" appearance which has helped endear him to so many new and young fans.'
None of which will deter TG from suggesting some new-and-improved hairstyles for Seb. How about the mane-like 'Alonso'? Or the awkwardly shorn 'Valentino'? Best of all, why not opt for the ever-fashionable 'Bernie'?
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