CITROËN’S SEBASTIAN LOEB IS “CHAMPION OF THE CHAMPIONS” AND RALLY DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Citroen’s Sebastian Loeb has won the Michelin Race of Champions, defeating two-time World Champion, Marcus Gronholm, and the Flying Frenchman has been elected Rally Driver of the Year by a jury of his peers.
The annual Race of Champions is probably the best test of individual driver’s skills from a range of motorsport disciplines, as the event not only pitches drivers from a range of motorsports against each other, they are also tested in identical cars on identical stages. This made Loeb’s win over Gronholm all the sweeter as the final test was carried out in Gronholm’s own car, the Peugeot 206 WRC, not the Citroën Xsara WRC that had enabled Loeb to gift Citroën the 2003 World Rally Championship manufacturer’s title.
Although the event attracts a wide range of motor sport drivers, as usual it was dominated by the rally drivers and their innate ability to drive at high speeds under any conditions and in any car. Not that the other drivers and sportsman gave it away easily. Extreme Games star, Travis Pastrana, barrel-rolled his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII several times after if tried to out- brake Marcus Gronholm. “I guess I left the braking just that little bit too late,” he commented after he had extricated himself from the remains of the Lancer rally car.
The event also saw the presentation of the prestigious Rally Driver of the Year, which is made of a jury of the world’s leading rally drivers and the team managers of the WRC teams, and it provided Sebastian Loeb with another trophy, but one that was, like the ROC win, all the sweeter as it was from his peers.
For Loeb the win in the Race of Champions is, he hopes, a good omen for the 2004 World Rally Championship season.
"Last year, I finished second here and went on to finish second in the World Championship,” said Loeb at the finish.“After this win in this year’s Race of the Champions, if the pattern continues, I should be a very happy man by this time next year!"
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For further information:
Citroën Australia Media Web Site:
Miles Williams
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111General Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7722
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 9558 7111Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 9558 7722
Citroën Australia / Mob: 0407 913 244
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EJR/ejr400
12/18/2003