Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb will race the Dakar Rally next year, French car manufacturer Peugeot said on Tuesday.

Loeb, 41, has been racing in the World Touring Car Championship since effectively retiring from WRC rallying after the last of his nine consecutive world titles in 2012.

He will race a Peugeot 2008 DKR at the 2016 Dakar Rally.

"The greatest rally driver of all time will tackle one of the biggest challenges of his exceptional career," said Peugeot Sport in a statement.

Loeb, who has made the odd appearance in rallies since quitting the WRC world championship circuit -- even winning in Monte Carlo and Argentina in 2013 -- will prepare for the Dakar by racing the week-long Rally of Morocco, which like the Dakar is a marathon rally and not part of the WRC circuit, next month.

During his competitive career, Loeb has raced almost exclusively for another French manufacturer, Citroen.

Source: AFP