Sebastien Loeb has won his second successive World Rally championship. Sebastien had a comfortable 35-point overall lead going into the Japanese Rally, after already winning eight rounds this season. This meant that Loeb had to finish only in the top three to secure his world title once again. Sebastien drove a strategic race to finish runner up to the Peugeot of Marcus Gronholm.

When asked about his title-clinching performance, Sebastien said “I’m really delighted to win a second time, which proves my first victory wasn’t down to just luck. That gives me a great deal of pleasure. We have reached the first peak of what has practically been a perfect season by sewing up our second drivers' title with three rounds still to come.”

Sebastien becomes only the fourth man to win two world rally titles back-to-back following an extraordinary season. He joins Finns Juha Kankkunen (1986-1987) and Tommi Makinen (1996-1999) and Italian Massimo Biasion (1988-1989) in retaining the title. He has won eight races this season to bring his career tally to 18 race victories. – 2 October 2005