Sebastien Loeb maintained his stranglehold on the Tour of Corsica by winning today’s opening stage as Marcus Gronholm’s challenge fell apart.

Sebastien Loeb capped a “perfect season” by clinching the world championship with second place on Rally Japan today.

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

WITH an air of expectancy, the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship season begins tomorrow with the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally. Several top drivers are involved in some type of change, a factor that adds further intrigue to the first of the eight round series.

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.