The M-Sport team boss described the virtues of the Loeb effect during his brief tenure:
“I think when the team sees a name like Séb come into coming to the ranks for one rally, it helps raise motivation without actually doing anything,” he says.
“They respect Séb – nine times champion, one of the most successful ever drivers in WRC, and he’s choosing to drive with us because he feels the car and the team that we’ve got can do the job he wants.”
Millener compared this year’s scenario to a similar situation M-Sport found itself in a few seasons ago.
“It was a bit like when Ogier came, it raised our performance overnight without actually changing anything, because people wanted to deliver,” he said.
“The atmosphere in the team [in 2022] has been incredible. Séb doesn’t say much, just kind of does what he needs to do. He’s very polite, it’s been very good with the team, says thank you to everyone.
“I think everyone just enjoyed the experience for what it was, regardless of result, and the fact that we won the rally was incredible. It’s been a really magical ride with him over the last couple of weeks.”