Monte Carlo: World Champion nine-time Sebastien Loeb, 47, making history the oldest winner of the WRC rally in the opening season in Monte Carlo on Sunday.
Loeb, driving a Ford M-Sport, took the lead at the second stage from behind when French rivals Sebastien Ogier, which was more than 20 seconds ahead, suffered a puncture.
The oldest WRC winner was Sweden Bjorn Waldegard, who took the 1990 safari rally in Kenya at the age of 46 and five months.
Providing the Pulaya at Toyota Yaris, recovering to take seconds, 10.5 seconds behind Loeb who recorded his eighth victory in Monte Carlo and the first since Catalunya in 2018.
“I feel very happy! I didn’t expect so much when I came here , But it’s a great battle, “said Loeb who partnered with Isabelle Galmiche co-driver.
“Ogier was very fast and I struggled a little yesterday and even this morning.” Ireland Craig Breen, in another Ford M-Sport, rounded up the podium.
Both Loeb and Ogier, who have won 17 of the last 18 titles between them, competes in full time at the 2022 championship which has seen the introduction of a new hybrid car.
Ogier, 38, just because it competes in a small number of events while Loeb made a quick refund from the second finishing in the Dakar rally to take part in Monte Carlo.
Heading to La Penne-Collongue was special, Loeb’s victory looked very unlikely when he was 24.6secs behind the Ogier who had detonated through the first two stages to win both.
But puncture before the time in the second half of the stage of precious time charges.
He dropped 34.1sec at the back to leave a clear road for incredible Loeb shots in victory.
With only the final 14.26km final to come, Loeb is led by 9.5 seconds and only needs to run clean to hit the Monte Carlo jackpot again.
Loeb did better than those who grabbed the two of the Ogier to Chalk up his WRC 80 victory and other records in history books.