Solberg pays tribute to Loeb

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

Loeb took his Citroen to second place in the Tour de Corse yesterday to confirm his first world title and end Solberg’s days as number one.

Solberg went into the French event needing a minor miracle to keep the title battle alive but lost time on the first two days to drop off the pace and eventually finish fifth.

The Subaru driver has vowed to bounce back on the final two rallies of the season but was keen to praise Loeb’s achievement.

He said: “Obviously I’m disappointed that the title race is over but that’s just how it is. We’ve shown this weekend that we have a lot of work to do before we are truly competitive in these conditions.

“Sebastien’s a good champion and I’m pleased for him. His team has done a good job and it’s well deserved. We’ve had some good battles this year and he’s the real champ this time.

“But, even though the title may be decided, you can be sure I’m going to go out and do my best on the last two events.”

Loeb, who follows Didier Auriol as a French world champion, was overjoyed to take the title on home ground.

“Winning the championship as a French driver with a French team on home soil is as good as it gets,” he said. “To say I’m world champion is very nice.

“It was tough to keep my focus, but my concentration was okay until five kilometres from the end of the last stage. I don’t know whether I could have caught the Fords this weekend but I started the rally with the goal of winning the title so that was always in my mind.

“Everyone has worked hard for this championship. It’s a good job from the team, the tyres and the car.”

Ford’s Markko Martin won the rally with ease for his second victory of the season, ending the day over two minutes clear of Loeb.

Citroen’s Carlos Sainz was third while Marcus Gronholm was fourth for Peugeot.

Ex-Formula One driver Stephane Sarrazin took world championship points for the first time from a fine sixth in his Subaru. Freddy Loix was seventh for Peugeot with Skoda’s Armin Schwarz eighth.

In the production class, Britain has two strong hopes of the title after Niall McShea and Alister McRae finished second and third respectively.

The pair are now two and three points respectively behind championship leader Jani Paasonen with one round remaining. Xavier Pons won the class.