Loeb wins record fifth World Rally Championship

11-03-2008 | AP

The French driver achieved a third place finish, allowing him to win again

Panama Star SAPPORO, JAPAN. – France's Citroen driver Sebastien Loeb clinched a record-breaking fifth straight World Rally Championship with a third-place finish in the Rally of Japan on Sunday.

The 14th leg of the 15-round championship series was won by Mikko Hirvonen of Finland for his third win of the year in 3hrs 25min 3sec after the 29 stages. "It's incredible. But that was a terrible rally. It couldn't have been more tricky. It's a great moment. It's perfect," said Loeb, who survived a dramatic spin in the 28th stage.

"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 to do five, we are very happy," he added.

Loeb had shared the record of four straight championships with Tommi Makinen of Finland (1996 to 1999).

The French driver won the Rally of Japan in 2006 but failed to finish last year's race.

Loeb, whose overall time was 3hrs 27min 33.6sec, has won 10 events this season for a total of 112 points. Loeb posted his first win in Germany in 2002, and rapidly developed his speed and consistency on gravel and snow afterwards to become an all-round performer with wins on all surface types. He showed his talent in 2003 by chasing Subaru's Petter Solberg to the title until the final round and went one better the following year with a series of superlative performances.