WORLD champion Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) made the perfect start to his Monte Carlo Rally title defence as he ended the first day over a minute ahead of Dani Sordo (Mini WRC).

THE Irish crew of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (MINI WRC) begins today’s second leg of Rally GB, the final round of the World Rally Championship, in fifth place following a solid run through yesterday’s opening three stages.

IRISH drivers, Kris Meeke and Craig Breen will start today’s second leg of Rally Spain in sixth and 14th places respectively as Sebastien Loeb leads the way in the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship.

BRIDGING a 25-year gap, Midleton’s Daragh O’Riordan (29) became the first Cork driver since Billy Coleman to win the Silver Springs Moran Hotel/Orchard Motorsport Cork “20 International Rally.

THE best-known rally in the world, the Monte Carlo Rally, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and the event has a great resonance for Irish competitors mostly initiated on Paddy Hopkirk’s victory in 1964.

Dani Sordo was the man to catch after the first day of the Rally Argentina after he won a thrilling battle with Mikko Hirvonen and Sebastien Loeb on the opening leg.

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb increased his advantage in the Cyprus Rally by eight seconds after claiming another stage victory on the gravel roads around Limassol today.

As expected, five times World rally champion Sebastien Loeb has brought his Citroen C4 to victory in Rally Ireland today.

Jari-Matti Latvala maintained his lead at the end of the second day of the Wales Rally GB today despite allowing world champion Sebastian Loeb to claw back valuable time over the closing stages.

Sebastien Loeb reclaimed the lead in the World Rally Championship after clinching his seventh consecutive Rally Germany crown today.

Sebastien Loeb maintained his place at the top of the standings after coming back from a slow puncture early on day two of the Acropolis Rally in Greece.

BP Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen reclaimed the lead in the World Rally Championship after posting his first win of the season at the inaugural event in Jordan.

A sequence of unlikely events conspired to keep Citroen’s Dani Sordo at the head of the Jordan Rally standings at the end of day two.

Reigning four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb recovered from a difficult start to the Jordan Rally today to sit ominously just one second off the lead at the end of the first leg.

Sebastien Loeb remained on course for a fourth consecutive victory at the Rally Argentina, winning three of the nine stages on Saturday to put his Citroen nearly 80 seconds clear of second-placed Petter Solberg.

SEBASTIEN LOEB sent out an ominous message on the first full day of the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally by establishing a 56-second lead over his nearest rival.

Sebastien Loeb sent out an ominous message on the first full day of the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally by establishing a 56-second lead over his nearest rival.

World Rally Championship leader Marcus Gronholm has refused to give up in the title race after seeing rival Sebastien Loeb take full advantage of his spectacular exit from Rally Ireland.

Sebastien Loeb capitalised fully on Marcus Gronholm's error as he seized control of the World Rally Championship title race in Rally Ireland today.

World Rally Championship leader Marcus Gronholm has been taken to hospital for medical tests after crashing out of Rally Ireland today.

The battle for the world rally driver’s title took another dramatic twist as Sebastien Loeb crashed out of Rally Japan on the second day in Obihiro.

Reigning World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb dominated the French Rally to close in on title rival Marcus Gronholm at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb won his third successive Rally Catalunya to cut championship leader Marcus Gronholm’s advantage to six points.

IT’s easy to see just why Sebastien Loeb is the World Rally Champion, thousands of spectators had first hand experience over the weekend as he set a scintillating pace in the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally.

The World Rally Championship title race was blown wide open after race leader Sebastien Loeb crashed on the final day of the Italy Rally.

Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb secured his third successive World Rally Championship triumph after easing to victory at the Rally Argentina today.

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb is hoping the challenging conditions expected in this weekend’s Swedish Rally do not prove to be his undoing.

WORLD Rally champion Sebastien Loeb had to fend off Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo as he opened his defence of the crown in Monaco.

World champion Sebastien Loeb saw his lead cut on the second morning of Rally Germany.

Sebastien Loeb claimed a perfect 10th victory of the season to give Citroen the manufacturers’ title in style on Rally Catalunya today.

Sebastien Loeb won every stage to take a dominant win on home ground in the Tour of Corsica.

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 is desperate to celebrate his world championship victory with success on home ground in this weekend’s Tour of Corsica.