The Indian ‘FTR Loeb’ winner now has his bike

INDIAN Motorcycle has now handed over the bike that was designed by WRC legend Sebastian Loeb to its new owner, and the FTR Loeb edition has found its home.

The bike was won after a test ride campaign was started by the American brand, which saw some 9,000 participants from 20 countries taking part. The winner, Martin from Toulouse in France, was randomly selected from those entries and invited to the Wheels and Waves festival for the bike to be handed over.

The bike was devised by the World Rally Championship legend Séb’ Loeb and turned into reality by the custom motorcycle team at Tank Machine and features special graphics and paint, custom parts, and off-the-shelf parts to create a very special-looking machine.

Speaking about his prize, Martin said:

“The day I got the call that I had won the FTR Loeb, I couldn't believe it. Being a great motorsport enthusiast, I really admire Sébastien and have followed him throughout his career. I can’t believe I get to ride the same bike as him.”

While the bike is special, it’s not a one-of-one machine, as there is another FTR Loeb on the planet. That bike has been given to the man that dreamed up the machine and now resides in a certain Mr Loeb’s trophy room.

This is an updated article originally published on 07/02/2023, the updated article can be found below.

Indian has partnered with nine-times WRC Champion Sebastien Loeb and French custom builder Tank Machine to offer the chance to win a custom Indian FTR.

Sebastien Loeb is widely regarded as the greatest rally driver of all-time, and for many people that would make him the greatest driver of all-time, ‘full stop’. Indeed, his statistics back this up, with his 80 World Rally victories putting him more than 20 clear of his nearest challenger, fellow Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, and his nine world titles putting him one clear of the same man, Ogier.

Loeb’s full-time WRC career may be in the rear view by now, but his victory - over Ogier - at the 2022 Rallye Monte-Carlo confirmed the preservation of his speed and ability even as he approaches 50, and that was only further reinforced with his impressive Dakar performance in January, when he finished second behind Toyota’s Nasser Al-Attiyah despite being plagued by punctures early in the rally.

As for the Indian FTR, its background also resides in competition, as it is derived from Indian’s successful flat track racer, the Scout FTR750.

It is a bike to which Loeb has been associated since his assumption of the role as an ambassador for Indian in February 2022, and one of which Loeb as been, according to Indian, “an enthusiastic rider.” (Specifically, Loeb’s FTR is the FTR R Carbon variant.)

This latest partnership between Loeb and Indian also involves Tank Machine, a French company specialising in custom motorcycles which has worked with Indian on various projects since 2016. “The ‘FTR Loeb’ as a unique interpretation of the American V-twin which Tank Machine will now bring to life in metal and paint over the coming months,” an Indian press release reads.

To have the chance to win the Indian FTR Loeb, all that is required is to test ride any Indian FTR at an Indian dealer and register online.

Unfortunately for those reading this article on the day it is published (7 February 2023), the link to register is not open until tomorrow (8 February 2023). In any case, the UK link is here: https://www.indianmotorcycle.co.uk/ftr-loeb-form/

It will be possible to access the link and to enter your details, however it will not be possible to submit your entry until tomorrow, 8 February. So, if you try to enter today and it does not work, try again tomorrow, when the submission should be possible. The competition will be open for registrations between 8 February and 15 May 2023, and the winner will be presented with the bike (which is now beginning construction with Tank Machine) at the Wheels and Waves custom bike show in France, in June.

For international readers, the relevant links can be found at the bottom of the page.

Sébastien Loeb said: “Motorcycling has always been a passion of mine and my career could have been so different if the right opportunity in motorcycle racing had presented itself before my move to four wheels. Riding is a unique experience, a whole different world of sensations compared to driving a car, and the FTR was just the perfect choice for me.

“I’ve become a big fan of the FTR’s unique style and performance, so to be asked to create a one-off build with Tank Machine was a real honour. I can’t wait to see the finished bike and I am sure the winner will love their FTR as much as I will.”