(Reuters) – France’s Sebastien Loeb received the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday to turn into, at 47, the oldest driver to win a spherical of the world championship.
The 9 occasions world champion, driving for M-Sport Ford in his first rally since 2020, took a record-equalling eighth profession Monte Carlo victory after late drama for closest rival Sebastien Ogier.
Compatriot Ogier, who has received the the world title and Monte Carlo eight occasions and is now competing part-time for Toyota, led in a single day however suffered a puncture to his automobile’s front-left tyre on the penultimate stage.
Loeb’s new co-driver Isabelle Galmiche turned the primary girl to face on high of a world rally championship podium since Italy’s Fabrizia Pons partnered winner Piero Liatti in Monte Carlo in 1997.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, enhancing by Gareth Jones)
Supply: KFGO
