Belgium’s Francois Duval stunned the rest of the field as he surged to the top of the leaderboard on day one of the Rally Germany.

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

World champion Sebastien Loeb continued his bid to increase his points lead by dominating the second day of the Italy Rally.

World Championship leader Sebastien Loeb hit the front of the Rally Sardinia at the end of the first leg after spending much of the day running down the order.

Marcus Gronholm cut Sebastien Loeb’s World Rally Championship lead to two points with victory in the Swedish round of the series.

FORD’S Marcus Gronholm was in commanding form to build an 11.1-second lead over title rival Sebastien Loeb at the Swedish Rally.

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

Sebastien Loeb dominated the first day of Rally Germany to leave the world champion closing in on his sixth win of the season.

MARCUS GRONHOLM finally ended world champion Sebastien Loeb’s winning streak by completing a dominant win on the Acropolis Rally in Greece yesterday.

Marcus Gronholm ended Sebastien Loeb’s winning streak on the Monte Carlo Rally today to take an early lead in the world championship.

World champion Sebastien Loeb completed a clean sweep of stage wins on the Monte Carlo Rally today but he was left needing a stroke of luck to keep his Principality winning streak alive.

World champion Sebastien Loeb’s bid for a fourth consecutive Monte Carlo Rally win was thrown off course by a heavy accident on stage six today.

Sebastien Loeb is cruising towards his 10th win of the season after dominating the first day of Rally Catalunya.

Daniel Sola ended Sebastien Loeb’s stage-winning run with a surprise fastest time on stage three of his home rally 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.

WORLD champion Sebastien Loeb blitzed the opposition on home turf yesterday to take an early stranglehold on the Tour of Corsica.

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.

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.

IT’S a venture into the unknown for Dubliner George Tracey, who competes in the Swedish Rally, the second round of the World Rally Championship, that begins today.

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.

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

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.

FIA World Rally Championship, Rally of New Zealand

Marcus Gronholm admitted that the moment when he tipped his Peugeot on its side during the second leg of the Rally of New Zealand was enough to get him to back off the throttle pedal for the remainder of the race.

FINLAND’S Marcus Gronholm is already looking a strong contender for a third Swedish Rally victory in four years, having mastered the icy conditions with almost nonchalant ease.

TREVOR MOORE, in an Escort Cosworth, won the Toshiba Rally after he capitalised on the retirement of Robbie McGurk (Subaru) who set the pace through the first five stages.

Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm rounded off Rally Australia with a flourish, setting the fastest time on the final stage in Perth to confirm his fifth win of the year.