Sébastien Loeb was forced to retire on Friday in the Kenyan rally following a mechanical problem at the end of the 4th special, announced his M-Sport Ford team.
The French driver was in 5th place in the rally.
At 48, the nine-time WRC world champion is doing a "freelance" for Ford as in the Monte Carlo rally he won in January.
According to M-Sport Ford, a fire broke out in the engine compartment of Loeb's car at the end of the 4th special, preventing him from continuing the rally.
"It's frustrating to give up like this because the feelings were good, the car was good and we had prepared well (...).
The rally is very tough, lots of dust and stones.
It's disappointing but we can't help it,” said Loeb.
His previous and only participation so far in the Kenyan rally dated back to 2002. This event was then removed from the WRC world championship calendar before returning to it last year, with victory going to the eight-time champion of the world Sébastien Ogier (Toyota).
The latter occupied Friday at the end of the 4th special the 2nd place behind the Briton Elfyn Evans, also on Toyota.
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