Full Throttle

FRENCHMAN Sebastien Loeb is set to celebrate his inaugural world championship in style, taking a sizeable lead into the final day of the Rally of Australia. Loeb took full advantage of a crash by overnight leader Marcus Gronholm Saturday to move within sight of a record-equalling sixth win in a season. Citroen driver Loeb won three of the stages Saturday to take a 1 minute 20.5 second lead over the remaining Peugeot of Harri Rovanpera heading into the final day.

Gronholm had opened up a 21.4 second break on the Perth circuit after winning five of the event’s first nine stages in his Peugeot 307.

But the Finn’s tilt at a record fourth Australian title ended just three kilometres into Saturday’s first stage, when he lost control and slid off the gravel road. That allowed Loeb to take over and the Citroen driver is now on track to equal Didier Auriol’s record for wins in a season, set in 1992.

Loeb, 30, sealed his first world title when he finished second in last month’s Rally of France.

Six stages remain Sunday to complete the 25-stage Australian rally and the 2004 season.

UPDATE: Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb has won the Telstra Rally Australia, the final round of the 2004 FIA World Rally Championship, to take his sixth win of the season, to add to those notched up in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Cyprus, Turkey, Germany and France. Loeb’s win means he has equalled the record set by Didier Auriol, for the most WRC wins in one season [set in 1992].

“Carlos [Sainz] said that he wanted to be greeted in Madrid with the news that we had won. Well once again Citroen gave us a perfect car which meant we were able to make that happen - thanks to everyone,” said Loeb.

Harri Rovanpera was second for Peugeot, to grab only his second podium result of the year. The Finn was the only 307 WRC to make it to the finish.