Advertisement
Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Reuters » Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
  Advertisement
      Discuss  |             Email   |         Print  |  Get latest news on your desktop

Loeb wins record fifth title
Get Sports updates:What's this?
  Advertisement
November 02, 2008 13:07 IST

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb clinched a record fifth world title in a row after surviving a late spin to finish third in the Japan [Images] Rally on Sunday.

Rival Mikko Hirvonen led Jari-Matti Latvala in a Ford one-two but it was not enough to keep the title race alive.

"It's incredible," Loeb told reporters. "But that was a terrible rally -- it couldn't have been more tricky. There was a lot of pressure but now it's a great moment. It's perfect.

"I'm so relieved this weekend is over now. Last year [co-driver] Daniel [Elena] and I equalled the record with four wins, so being the only ones with five is nice."

A spin on the penultimate stage almost cost the Frenchman third place and his hopes of glory in Sapporo as torrential rain made conditions treacherous.

"I spun a few hundred metres before the finish," said Loeb. "I was doing about 50kph in a straight line and then 'Bang!' -- it just went.

"We had to reverse and get going again. I lost the electronic differential control because of the water everywhere."

However, Loeb recovered to finish more than a minute clear of Subaru's Chris Atkinson in fourth.

DOMINANT SEASON

Hirvonen won by 31.1 seconds from fellow Finn Latvala but paid tribute to the 34-year-old Loeb for another dominant season.

"He definitely deserved it," said Hirvonen. "Everybody can see he won 10 rallies this year. I did all I could. I will just have to try again next year."

Loeb had wanted to secure the title in Japan in order to drive flat-out in the last race in Britain later this month in a bid to break his own record of 10 wins in a season.

Friday's first leg began frustratingly for Loeb until a high-speed crash involving Ford driver Francois Duval gave the Frenchman third spot.

Duval's accident left his co-driver Patrick Pivato badly injured and needing surgery for a fractured pelvis and tibia, and caused the afternoon's stages to be cancelled.

Loeb, dubbed the "Michael Schumacher [Images] of rallying" for his stranglehold over the sport, has won a record 46 races during a career that began in 1999.




© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
       Email  |        Print   |   Get latest news on your desktop

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback