Sebastien Loeb has been crowned World Rally Champion for the third year in succession. The finale to the 2006 Championship was unusual in that Sebastien took the title without setting foot in his race-car. The Frenchman is still recuperating at home, having broken his arm last month but his points lead in the driver’s championship was such that only Marcus Gronholm had a theoretical chance of overhauling him. Gronholm’s failure to achieve a top-3 finish at the Telstra Rally of Australia effectively handed the title to Sebastien.

Sebastien has had a remarkable season becoming the first driver racing for a privateer team to win the World Championship since Ari Vatenen in 1981. He finished either first or second in every rally in which he raced and also claimed the all-time record for most rally wins. – 29 October 2006