Sebastien Loeb clinches fourth world title

Fans witnessed history on Wales Rally GB, as Sebastien Loeb clinched a record-equalling fourth World Rally Championship driver’s title.
The 33-year-old Frenchman joins Finns Tommi Makinen (champion in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999) and Juha Kankkunen (1986, 1987, 1991 and 1993) as the only drivers to win four WRC titles.

Like Makinen, Loeb has achieved his record by taking four wins in a row.

In order to win his fourth title, Loeb only had to bring his Citroen C4 WRC home in fifth place or better on Wales Rally GB.
He managed that with ease despite facing some of the most challenging conditions of the season, as rain lashed the stages and fog made visibility hard. He eventually finished a comfortable third after spending the rally driving well within his limits.

“I just tried to keep it smooth and brake early,” he said. “For sure I would rather have been driving flat-out for the win, but that wasn’t the right approach this time. The title was my goal, and it is special to win it after such a great battle with Marcus.

The event was won by Mikko Hirvonen, with his Ford-team-mate Marcus Gronholm following him home.

“I guess I took more risks than the others on the first day,” said Hirvonen, who set a blistering pace in the fog on day one. “I didn’t have a title to think about, so I could just go for it.”

Although the one-two was a great achievement for Ford and Hirvonen, Gronholm was left disappointed with his runner-up spot in the world championship.

The 39-year-old Finn and his 43-year-old co-driver Timo Rautianen are now retiring from fulltime competition after winning two world titles in 2000 and 2002.

“It’s been quite a frustrating weekend for me, just trying to finish and hoping that Sebastien would slip up. But he’s too good a driver for that.”

In the showdown for the British Rally Championship title, County Durham’s Guy Wilks, 26, took an emotional first title, after heading reigning title holder Mark Higgins in a tense battle.

The Mitsubishi drivers went head to head throughout the event, with Wilks establishing an early lead after Higgins, 36, suffered punctures on day one.

Despite a one-minute cushion, Wilks knew that the slightest slip would put his rival back in contention.
“I had a scare in stage 15 when the car just cut out,” said Wilks. “My heart stopped, but I noticed the cut-off switch had slipped round, so we got going again.”

Earlier in the event, Toshi Arai was confirmed as the Production Car World Rally Championship winner on Friday’s opening leg, when title rival Gabriel Pozzo crashed out of Wales Rally GB.

Provisional result, subject to FIA confirmation:

1st 4: Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
2nd 3: Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen
3rd 1: Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
4th 7: Petter Solberg/Philip Mills
5th 2: Dani Sordo/Marc Marti
6th 16: Matthew Wilson/Michael Orr
7th 8: Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot
8th 5: Manfred Stohl/Ilka Minor
9th 17: Xavier Pons/Xavier Amigo
10th 9: Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Antilla