
Citroen's Sébastien Loeb has taken out the 2005 WRC with three rounds still to be contested. The Frenchman sealed the win in the drivers title (his second) with a second place finish in the Rally of Japan on the weekend.
A strong fourth place for Loeb's teammate, François Duval, has moved Citroen closer to its third consecutive World title.
"Fantastic," kept repeating the beaming Loeb at the finish. "We have reached the first peak of what has practically been a perfect season. This triumph is also Citreon's and we now intend to do all we can to make sure the team keeps the Manufacturers' title."
Peugeot's Marcus Grönholm took out the round win in Japan. It was the first rally since the death of fellow Peugeot entrant Markko Martin's co-driver, Michael Park, at the Rally of GB. Martin did not compete in Japan.
Australian Subaru driver, Chris Atkinson was third in the rally after also leading the round. It was his best performance of the season.
Loeb's second world title is the culmination of a remarkable season in which he and Citroen set two new world records. In addition to recording the largest number of consecutive wins (six), with three rounds still to go Loeb has also clinched the record for the largest number of wins in a season -- eight.