Citroën's Sébastian Loeb clinched the Driver's title in the 2011 World Rally Championship despite failing to finish the event.
Sebastian Loeb on Wales Rally GB Image: Citroen |
The unfortunate Frenchman, with regular co-driver Daniel Elena alongside, had been battling for the title with Ford driver, Mikko Hirvonen, but both went out of the final even of the year, Wales Rally GB, before the end.
Hirvonen was the first to exit after an accident on a timed stage, with the highly competitive Finn crashing into a ditch. Although he finished the stage, the damage to radiator was significant enough to end his rally on the next road section, handing Loeb the 2011 Driver's crown.
Loeb, who had already sealed the manufacturer's title for Citroën, went into the final day of the event pushing for rally victory, only to be involved in a collision with a spectator car on a section between stages. Although accident wasn't Loeb's fault, similar to Hirvonen the damage to his car's radiator was enough to put him out of the rally.
Victory on the event went to Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala, helping Ford to a staggering nine of the top 10 places on the rally. The only interloper was the factory Mini of Britain's Kris Meeke in fourth place, Mini's best result in its first year back in rallying.
Loeb's fortunes returned in the post-season Monza Rally Show when the Frenchman, with his wife Severine in the Co-driver's seat, won the two day event. More surprisingly, in an event littered with top rally drivers, was the second place finisher. Motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi swopped his two wheel Ducati for a Ford Fiesta RS and showed that he is just as talented on four wheels.