Loeb, from the Alsace region of France, began the final day of the WRC qualifier, which consisted of one test, the 5.16-kilometre Power Stage, with a lead of 2m41.6s. After completing the challenging run unscathed, victory was all but assured.

"For sure it's always a great moment to start the season like this especially in front of so many fans," Loeb told World Rally Radio. "Full points in the first race is incredible and for sure it's the perfect start [to my title defence]. But Monte-Carlo is my rally and for the others we will have to see."

Dani Sordo finished second in his MINI John Cooper Works WRC, the marque's first podium on the legendary event since Rauno Aaltonen took the overall victory in 1967 in a Cooper S. Petter Solberg, in a Fiesta RS WRC, bagged the final podium spot on his return to the factory Ford team after an absence of more than a decade. It was the Norwegian's first Monte-Carlo podium.

Mikko Hirvonen marked his debut for the works Citroen squad in fourth with Evgeny Novikov impressing throughout to take fifth in his M-Sport Fiesta, which equals his best finish in the WRC to date. The Russian completed his Monte-Carlo debut by claiming the final Power Stage point.

French legend Francois Delecour took sixth on his return to the WRC for the first time since 2002. The former Monte-Carlo winner handed driving duties to co-driver Dominique Savignoni for the Power Stage to celebrate the navigator's retirement from competition.

Pierre Campana scored a career-best seventh in his factory MINI with Ott Tanak eighth after a conservative run in his M-Sport Fiesta. Martin Prokop edged MINI privateer Armindo Araujo in a close battle for ninth place with Matthew Wilson taking 11th overall for the new Go Fast Energy World Rally Team.

Volkswagen Motorsport's Kevin Abbring was the highest Super 2000 finisher in 12th, one place ahead of Go Fast's Henning Solberg, whose challenge for a top 10 finish was scuppered by a double driveshaft failure on day one.

Craig Breen won the Super 2000 World Rally Championship division in his Fiesta in 14th with Michal Kosciuszko nursing his Mitsubishi Lancer home to the Production Car World Rally Championship spoils in 30th overall.

The World Rally Championship resumes on Rally Sweden from 9-12 February.


And finally, news of the UK and Irish Teams on the 80th Rallye Monte-Carlo, 17th to 22nd January 2102 .…

Almost five decades after a British-built Mini first won the world's most famous Rally, another British Team had much to celebrate in Monte Carlo on Sunday 22nd January 2012.

The Prodrive prepared MINI John Cooper Works WRC of Spain's Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio finished second overall behind the Citroen DS3 WRC of six times 'Monte' winner and eight times World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena. Dave Wilcock, MINI Team Principal commented, "This is my first event as Team Principal so to get a second in Monte Carlo with the MINI WRC Team is absolutely fantastic. Obviously we are all extremely pleased.

Ulsterman Paddy Hopkirk and the late Henry Liddon carried number 52 on the doors of their red-and-white, 1071cc, 70bhp Mini Cooper 'S' in 1964. Dani and Carlos had 1600cc and 184bhp at their disposal in their number 52 red-and-white BMW-built version.

Chris Patterson, born four years after his fellow countryman won the 'Monte' in 1964, put his 19 years of WRC experience to good effect to guide Norway's Petter Solberg to third place overall on their first outing with the Cumbria-based Ford World Rally Team. Driving a Fiesta RS WRC they won four of the 18 timed special stages.

Waterford's Craig Breen invested part of the 500,000 Euros career development scholarship he earned for winning the inaugural FIA WRC Academy Cup in 2011 in his entry into the 'Monte' as was rewarded with victory on the opening round of the eight-round Super 2000 World Rally Championship.

Twenty-one year-old Breen had trailed P-G Andersson from Wednesday's opening stage but moved in front on the penultimate day when the Swede's PROTON suffered an under-bonnet fire caused by a fuel leak, leaving the way clear for the Irishman to claim his maiden success in the WRC support category and 14th place overall.

"I'm very, very happy," said Breen, whose Ford Fiesta S2000 was co-driven by Welshman Gareth Roberts. "We came here with the aim of getting as much experience as possible and get to the finish without making mistakes. Taking home the maximum 25 points on the first event is a fantastic way to start to the season but I'm not going to kid myself and celebrate too hard because PG had a big lead when he retired and I was the last man standing."

Cumbria's Matt Wilson and Scott Martin unveiled their new sponsor's livery in Monte-Carlo. 'Go Fast' replacing the previous Stobart colours on their Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Tyre choice in the ever-changing conditions proved difficult and failures with the dashboard instrumentation and intercom delayed the team towards the end of the five day rally. They eventually finished 11th overall.

"We didn't know what the rally was going to be like at all, or even if we would make the start. This has been a totally different experience for me. But we made it to the end and that is what counts here. "It was a difficult rally for sure. But to compete in Monte-Carlo is incredible. The atmosphere was fantastic. Especially on the stages last night - really fun to drive", said Matt.

Wexford's Eamonn Boland and Michael Morrissey, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, were classified 36th out of the 53 finishers.

Maidstone's Louise Cook, 2011 BRC Ladies Champion, made her 'Monte' debut and was classified 54th in her privately-run Fiesta ST. She was co-driven by her regular partner, Stefan Davis.

The next and second round of the 13 round FIA World Rally Championship is the Swedish Rally (http://www.rallysweden.com) starting in Karlstad on Thursday 9th February.

Ends