Sebastien Loeb was today crowned 2004 WRC Champion, and he did it in style on home soil, with a podium finish in the Rallye de France. What makes Loeb’s achievement all the more remarkable is that this is only his second full season at the top level. He clinched the title from reigning world champion Petter Solberg, having narrowly missed out to the Norwegian in his first full season last year.Sebastien secured the WRC title with a second place finish behind Ford’s Markko Martin and celebrated his success with a somersault on the podium.

Sebastien was ebullient afterwards and was quick to give credit to his Citroen support team as well: “winning the championship as a French driver with a French team on home soil is as good as it gets. 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.”

Loeb’s team-mate Carlos Sainz has won more WRC rallies than anyone else, so the Spanish former double World Champion is a good judge of just how good his young colleague has become. “I predicted in June last year that Loeb would be champion,” said Sainz. “He’s now the complete driver, he’s just good everywhere.”

Loeb’s speed on asphalt has been obvious since he first hit the world scene, but he has evolved into a more complete driver and his consistency this season has been remarkable. Backing up those five wins this year, have been six second places and two fourths. On only one round so far this year has he failed to finish – when an oil-leak caused by hitting a rock put him out while leading in Mexico – a measure of Loeb’s consistency and his Citroen’s reliability.

With two rounds in the championship left to run Loeb can still set a record of his own, however.  Didier Auriol’s record of six World Rally Championship wins in a season is now firmly in his sights. - 17 October 2004