World champion elect Sebastien Loeb is cruising towards his first Wales Rally GB win after nearest rival Petter Solberg admitted he is powerless to match the Frenchman’s relentless pace.

Sebastian Loeb claimed victory in the OMV ADAC Rally in Germany to move a step closer to defending his World Rally Championship title.

PEUGEOT driver Marcus Gronholm finally ended Sebastien Loeb’s World Rally Championship dominance as he claimed victory on home territory in the Rally Finland yesterday.

Marcus Gronholm and Sebastien Loeb were separated by just 5.8 seconds after an exhilarating opening day of Rally Finland.

World champion Sebastien Loeb has warned his rivals he has no intention of dropping the pace after setting a new record with victory on the Rally Argentina, his sixth consecutive triumph.

World champion Sebastien Loeb completed a dominant victory on the Acropolis Rally today to secure his fifth-consecutive win.

Championship leader Sebastien Loeb continued his domination of the Cyprus Rally after he won the first four of the six stages on leg two today to stretch his advantage.

Reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb edged closer to his third-successive rally victory as he ended day one of the Cyprus Rally at the top of the leader board.

Sebastien Loeb moved a step closer to victory on Rally Italia this morning by cementing his comfortable advantage over world championship rival Petter Solberg.

Sebastien Loeb got his world championship defence back on track with a comfortable victory in Rally New Zealand.

Subaru driver Petter Solberg went top of the World Rally Championship standings after driving to victory in this weekend’s Rally Mexico.

Petter Solberg has a lead of 29.6seconds after the second day of the Rally Mexico.

Petter Solberg got his world championship campaign back on track with victory in the Swedish Rally today as his chief rivals hit trouble.

TWO-TIME world champion Marcus Gronholm held off Petter Solberg to claim the lead at the end of the first day of the Swedish Rally.

World champion Sebastien Loeb resumed where he left off this morning by taking victory on the first stage of the day in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Sebastien Loeb seized control of the Monte Carlo Rally on the first day of the new season.

Markko Martin today confirmed he will leave Ford to join Peugeot for next season’s world rally championship.

World champion Sebastien Loeb ended day two of the Rally Australia in the lead after Marcus Gronholm retired early on.

Newly-crowned world champion Sebastien Loeb continued to close in on Rally Australia leader Marcus Gronholm after four stages on leg one of the event.

The World Rally Championship has been dealt a blow with news of plans for Citroen and Peugeot - the team of Marcus Gronholm - to withdraw after next season.

Cork-born driver, Donie O’Sullivan and his Kerry co-driver, Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) finished the best of the Irish trio in Rally Catalunya, the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship that was won by Ford ace, Markko Martin.

Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke heads the Irish challenge after the opening leg of the Rally de Catalunya Rally in Spain.

World champion Sebastien Loeb continued to push for his sixth victory of the season after finishing day one of the Rally Catalunya in the lead.

Newly-crowned world champion Sebastien Loeb is locked in a bitter struggle with Markko Martin for victory on the Rally Catalunya.

Petter Solberg saluted his successor as world champion after Sebastien Loeb became just the second Frenchman to take the title.

Sebastien Loeb tightened his grip on the Wales Rally GB with a controlled display this morning.

Subaru’s Petter Solberg has extended his lead in the Rally Japan to 46.4 seconds after dominating the action on the second morning.

Subaru’s reigning world champion Petter Solberg led after the opening four stages of the inaugural Rally Japan.

Markko Martin admitted his Rally Finland efforts were compromised by injuries he suffered in a horrifying accident in Argentina.

Marcus Gronholm hailed his “very special” victory on Rally Finland after taking the spoils on home soil for the fourth time in five years.

Reigning world champion Petter Solberg made it four wins from four stages on stage 15 of the Rally Finland.

Marcus Gronholm tightened his grip on Rally Finland as he looks for a world championship lifeline.

Harri Rovanpera crashed out of the lead of Rally Finland today to give Marcus Gronholm a clear run in his bid for a fourth win on home ground.

Marcus Gronholm and Sebastien Loeb were embroiled in a tense battle for victory in the Rally of Turkey after a closely fought opening day.

Finland’s Marcus Gronholm has been stripped of his victory in this month’s Cyprus Rally after it was deemed that Peugeot’s water pump was illegal.

Always having more pace than his rivals, Derryman Kevin Lynch parented by Francis O’Regan (Subaru WRC) won the Midleton-based Moonraker Rally, round four of the McCauley Trailers Irish Forest Rally Championship.

Ireland’s Austin MacHale and co-driver, Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) are beginning today’s final leg of the International Rally of Wales in third place with Northern Ireland pair Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson ((Corsa) in seventh spot and leading the Super 1600 category.

Marcus Gronholm remains on course to win for the first time this season after enjoying a trouble-free second day on the Cyprus Rally.

Petter Solberg won today’s first two stages of the Cyprus Rally to begin his fightback after a day-one disappointment.

THE MOONRAKER Rally, an event steeped in tradition, marks a beginning of an era for the Munster Car Club, the rally section of the now technically disbanded Munster Motor Cycle and Car Club, one of the oldest clubs in the sport that originally catered for four different aspects of motorsport.

Subaru’s Petter Solberg held off a spirited late challenge from the Peugeot of Marcus Gronholm to win the Rally New Zealand.

Marcus Gronholm and Markko Martin closed the gap on overall leader Petter Solberg when finishing first and second on Stage 15 of the Rally New Zealand this morning.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb saw his lead reduced but he still retains a commanding advantage after the opening stage of the Monte Carlo Rally this morning.

THE start of the Irish Tarmac Championship looms — beginning with the Galway International Rally — and Pirelli Tyres are the series sponsor.