World Rally Championship

The entry list for the Rally Portugal is fairly extensive, with 74 entries in the race. Making headlines is the one-off return of Marcus Gronholm to the WRC from his retirement. He will be participating in a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRC run by Prodrive, the company that ran the Subaru World Rally Team.

Also making news is the return of the Adapta World Rally Team. Adapta, which lent Prodrive Gronholm's car (his livery is different), will be led again by Mads Ostberg who will be piloting a similar 2008 Subaru Impreza WRC.

The Merksteijn Motorsports team returns as well, with two cars, a 2006 Ford Focus WRC and a 2007 Ford Focus WRC driven by father and son Peter and Peter Jr Merksteijn.This makes the WRC-class 18 cars strong providing a larger field than the three previous events this year.

Rally Portugal – Entry List:

1. Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
2. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC M
3. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC M
4. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC M
5. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC MT
6. Henning Solberg Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC MT
7. Evgeny Novikov Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC MT
8. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC MT
9. Federico Villagra Munchi's Ford Focus WRC MT

11. Petter Solberg PS WRT Citroen Xsara WRC A8
12. Sebastien Ogier Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC A8
14. Khalid Al Qassimi BP Ford Abu Dhabi Focus RS WRC A8
15. Marcus Gronholm Prodrive Subaru Impreza WRC2008 A8
16. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC2008 A8
17. Peter van Merksteijn Jr Ford Focus RS WRC 06 A8
18. Peter van Merksteijn Ford Focus RS WRC 07 A8

132. Bernard Sousa FIAT Abarth Grande Punto S2000 P
134. Gianluca Linari Subaru Impreza STi P
136. Eder Valdez Subaru Impreza P
137. Frederic Sauvan Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P
138. Gabor Mayer Subaru Impreza P
139. Thomas Prive Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P
140. Andis Neiksans Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P
144. Jaromir Tarabus FIAT Abarth Grande Punto S2000 P
145. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza N14 P
146. Patrik Sandell Skoda Fabia S2000 P
147. Armindo Araujo Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P
148. Gaurav Singh Gill Subaru Impreza N14 P
149. Eyvind Brynildsen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P
150. Nasser Al-Attiyah Subaru Impreza N14 P
159. Bruno Magalhaes Peugeot 207 S2000 P
160. Ricardo Moura Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX P

61. Nikos Thomas Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4
62. Jon Williams Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4
63. Jarkko Nikara Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4
64. Martin Semerad Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4
65. Mark Tapper Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X N4

32. Michal Kosciuszko Suzuki Swift S1600 J
33. Simone Bertolotti Suzuki Swift S1600 J
34. Luca Griotti Renault Clio J
35. Yoann Bonato Suzuki Swift J
36. Hans Weijs Citroen C2 S1600 J
37. Kevin Abbring Renault Clio RS J
39. Alessandro Bettega Renault Clio J

66. Rene Kuipers Ford Focus RS WRC 06 A8
67. Dennis Kuipers Ford Focus RS WRC 06 A8
68. Adruzilo Lopes Subaru Impreza N4
69. Andreas Mikkelsen Subaru Impreza N4
70. Vitor Pascoal Peugeot 207 S2000 N4
71. Fernando Peres Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
72. Pedro Meireles Subaru Impreza WRX N4
73. Ott Tanak Subaru Impreza WRX N4
74. Ricardo Teodosio Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
76. Hermann Gassner Jr Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
76. Barroso Pereira Subaru Impreza WRX N4
77. Francisco Barros Leite SEAT Leon FR TDi A8
78. Luis Cardoso Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII N4
79. Pedro Rodrigues Subaru Impreza WRX N4
80. Luca Hoelbing Subaru Impreza ST N4
81. Xavier Villepreux Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX N4
82. Rui Breda Lousado Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII N4
83. Paulo Freire Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR N4
84. Manuel Coutinho Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI N4
85. Josef Petak Citroen C2 S1600 A6
86. Michael Honda Citroen C2 S1600 A6
87. Joao Fernando Ramos Renault Clio RS N3
88. Manuel Inacio Renault Clio R3

89. Patrick Anglade Ford Fiesta ST N3
90. Craig Breen Ford Fiesta ST N3
91. Denis Grodetskiy Ford Fiesta ST N3
92. Majed Al Shami Ford Fiesta ST N3
93. Bader Al Jabri Ford Fiesta ST N3
94. Ahmed Al Mansoori Ford Fiesta ST N3

95. Tom Cave Ford Fiesta ST N3

M - denotes Manufacturer entry.
MT - denotes Manufacturer Team entry.
P - denotes Production Car WRC entry.
J – denotes JWRC entry

I see the red taillights blazing, I hear the distinctive thrum from the flat-four boxer engine, I feel the whoosh of wind as Petter Solberg deftly maneuvers his Subaru Impreza WRC2008 around a tight hairpin by jabbing at his car’s handbrake.

The mud now spraying in every direction, the spectators are not deterred in the least. All eyes are focused on the bright blue hatchback dancing towards the horizon, making the zigzagging road that lies ahead magically straighten out. The Norwegian driver snatches second gear, then third, then fourth, as he rounds a sweeping right turn bend to disappear out of sight over a rise.

This is five seconds in the life of one of this sport’s most enduring and respected machines: The Subaru Impreza WRC car.

For 2008, the Subaru World Rally Team was faced with the daunting task of reeling in the Citroen C4 WRC and the Ford Focus RS WRC cars, with the aims of regaining the coveted Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championship titles. Without even a moment’s hesitation, Solberg at a press conference ahead of the 2008 season stated that his sole aim is to win the Championships for Subaru.

It reminds me of an interview in 2007 where Solberg was asked how important rallying with Subaru is to him. His response went something like this: First Subaru rallying, family, and then everything else. This man’s blood is Subaru blue.

In 2008, Solberg was partnered with Phil Mills, while Aussie Chris Atkinson and Stephane Prevot piloted the second Impreza WRC car. The 2008 season with its 15 rounds was to prove a difficult year for all teams and competitors.

Not only was Subaru demanding much success from its mighty impressive Impreza WRC2007, but it was also spending large sums of money (and, more importantly, man hours) into developing a new rally car, the WRC2008, to reflect the Japanese motor manufacturers’ new-generation Impreza.

Producing sound results and showcasing the team’s championship winning potential, Solberg and Atkinson proved there was life yet in the ageing sedan-shaped Impreza WRC car earlier in 2008. When the new war machine was debuted at WRC Rally Greece, it was immediately quick out of the box, recording a podium result in its competitive debut.

The Subaru World Rally Team was once again on course to resume battle with Citroen and Ford.

With bucketloads of determination, motivation and talent, the two SWRT drivers, Solberg and Atkinson, once again brought pride to the Japanese motor manufacturer in 2008 with a string of impressive results in their all-new Impreza WRC2008.

The potential for rally-winning success was great in 2008, and after a strong showing in the closing rounds of the WRC season, it became more evident the Subaru Imprezas were fast gaining lost ground to their rivals. Unfortunately, an international economic downturn saw Subaru dramatically withdraw from the World Rally Championship on Dec. 16, only a few days after it had confirmed its entry for the 2009 season.

This abrupt end concluded what has been a hugely successful 19-years in top-flight rallying, because through rallying, Subaru has made itself a household name.

The ‘98 WRC season saw an updated WRC97 compete. As in 1996/1997, Subaru pumped its resources into their 1999 model, which is considered to be the start of the technological era in the WRC. Prodrive and Subaru engineers worked tirelessly on the interaction and also focused on the adjustable parameters of the automated controlled systems in the car.

As such, it was the year in which the paddle gear shifters were used in competition, as well as the debut of fly-by-wire throttle technology in rallying, thanks to Subaru and Prodrive.

Fans of the brand, team, and charismatic drivers will have to suffice with reruns of pre-2009 events to satisfy their Subaru lust. Or they can just reread this article.

Sebastien Loeb is one day away from notching his 50th World Rally Championship victory.  The Citroen C4 driver ended the second day of the WRC Rally Cyprus with an overall lead to 49.8 seconds through unpredictable conditions that started muddy in the morning.   

Erratic overnight rain created difficult driving conditions, with damp and soggy roads on morning stages, and dry and dusty surfaces in the afternoon.
Loeb remained untouchable in the mud but the situation changed for Loeb in the afternoon when dry roads left the Frenchman struggling for grip.

Then Loeb had to back off the pace on both afternoon stages when he experienced brake problems.
 
“We tried to fix them after the previous stage but we still had problems with the balance and their temperature on this one,” Loeb explained after SS11. “The brakes reached 600°C at the rear and 200°C at the front so we had to drive very smoothly to keep the temperature down.

"Then, one kilometer from the end, we spun and stalled on a hairpin and I had to reverse to get going again. So okay, two very difficult stages in the afternoon, we lost some time, but we’re still in the lead and that’s the most important thing for the moment.”

Spaniard Dani Sordo in a Citroen slipped a spot to third place which allowed Mikko Hirvonen in a Ford moved up to second position.

Norwegian Petter Solberg in a Citroen Xsara was fourth, amazingly setting the fastest times in the 10th and 11th stages.

Jari-Matti Latvala's Ford Focus crashed off the road in the second stage, as the Finn was then running fourth in the overall line-up.

He was then forced to run for a kilometer for help to get the car out of a ditch.

Leaderboard after day two
1. S Loeb/D Elena (FRA)                         Citroën C4               3h33m43.8s
2. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen (FIN)                 Ford Focus RS          +49.8s
3.D Sordo/M Marti (ESP)                         Citroën C4               +1m36.0s
4. P Solberg/P Mills (NOR)                       Citroën Xsara           +1m51.9s
5. M Wilson/S Martin (GB)                        Ford Focus RS           +5m13.7s
6. S Ogier/J Ingrassia (FRA)                    Citroën C4               +5m42.8s
7. E Novikov/D Moscatt  (RUS)                 Citroën C4               +6m22.8s
8. C Rautenbach/D Barritt (ZW)               Citroën C4               +7m23.5s
9. F Villagra/J Perez Companc (ARG)         Ford Focus RS          +9m00.9s
10. K Al Qassimi/M Orr (UAE)                   Ford Focus RS          +9m29.6s
23. H Solberg/C Menkerud (NOR)           Ford Focus RS           +32m09.7s

Photo and Quotes Courtsey of WRC

Domination is the word of the day at the World Rally Championship Cyprus Rally. Sebastien Loeb continues with his total domination of the sport by winning five of the six stages and taking a 41.8-second lead into leg two.

Even the afternoon rains could slow the Citroen driver. He ended the day with what should prove a large enough lead to hold off any potential when he will have to run first on dusty gravel roads.

"I was a bit too careful in the rain in some places," said Loeb. "It's the last stage of the day and I didn't want to make any mistakes as I have a good lead. I didn't take big risks. Tomorrow we'll have to clean the road but if it's raining maybe it will not be so bad. I don't know what we'll see tomorrow, but I'll try to continue like this."

Loeb’s teammate, Dani Sordo finished the day in second place maintaining Citroen's one-two formation.

Mikko Hirvonen bounced back from a poor performance in the morning and is somewhat content having minimized the time loss to the leaders in the afternoon. The Ford Focus driver will be hoping to take advantage of a cleaner road surface tomorrow, but isn't confident about his chances of closing on Loeb.

"The afternoon was good, we lost maybe 14 seconds to Sebastien, which is acceptable," he said. "But in the morning we just didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to drive in these conditions with gravel tires. It's going to be really tough," he admitted.

"Especially if it rains, Sebastien will be in a really good position for tomorrow. It's going to be difficult to catch him."

Hirvonen’s teammate, Jari-Matti Latvala is just 8.6s behind Hirvonen in the second Ford.

All alone in fifth is independent driver Petter Solberg in his Citroen Xsara. Last year’s Junior World Rally Champion, Sebastien Ogier kept close to Solberg early in the day but after stalling his Citroen at the starting line and then a spin later on SS4 he dropped to over 30 seconds behind in sixth place.

Evgeny Novikov has pulled away from eighth-placed Matthew Wilson in the Stobart Ford rounding out the points paying positions.

Stobart Ford driver Henning Solberg had an inglorious end to his participation in the Cyprus Rally. On their way to the first stage of the event a pickup truck swerved in front and collided with the Ford Focus.

Henning attempted repairs on site to no result and had to retire from the Cyprus Rally.

Leading positions after day one:

Pos  Driver              Car      Time
 1.  Sebastien Loeb      Citroen  1h37:46.3
 2.  Dani Sordo          Citroen   +   41.8
 3.  Mikko Hirvonen      Ford      + 1:00.2
 4.  Jari-Matti Latvala  Ford      + 1:08.3
 5.  Petter Solberg      Citroen   + 2:27.1
 6.  Sebastien Ogier     Citroen   + 3:03.0
 7.  Evgeny Novikov      Citroen   + 3:16.0
 8.  Matthew Wilson      Ford      + 4:25.9
 9.  Conrad Rautenbach   Citroen   + 4:35.3
10.  Federico Villagra   Ford      + 5:02.

This is the first in a series of articles called WRC Tribute to provide information about the WRC whether it is cars, drivers, events, brands, or eras.

The Lancia Stratos is first because of the impact it had on rally racing.

In the early 1970s, Lancia proposed entering rally racing with a car built uniquely for that purpose.

Prior to the Stratos, existing cars were modified for sport use but no car had been designed purely for competition. The Stratos would forever change the rally racing world.

Designed by Bertone designer Marcello Gandini and first revealed as the Stratos Zero concept car in 1970. The car was low to the ground and wide, resembling supercars such as today's Lamborghini LP640 and Ferrari F430. The 1971 Stratos HF prototype would serve as the production model and featured three different engines: Lancia's Fulva and Beta 4-cylinder engines and a Ferrari V6 borrowed from the Dino sportscar. Lancia opted for the Ferrari V6 for both the street and rally cars.

To meet homologation requirements (certain number of street cars to be produced to qualify for rallying) for the World Rally Championship (WRC), Lancia had to produce 400 Stratos for consumers. In 1973 Lancia did fulfilled the requirement making them eligible to race the Stratos in the 1974 WRC season onwards.

The Stratos rally car used the mid-mounted Ferrari V6 engine that was in the consumer model, but was modified from 190 bhp to 280. Although Ferrari replaced the Dino's V6 in 1974, it provided Lancia with 500 engines which the Stratos rally cars would continue to use.

The Stratos won its first race at Lancia's (and Fiat's) home event the Rally Sanremo with driver Sandro Munari besting Fiat's Giulio Bisulli by eight seconds. Munari repeated his success at the next event in Canada. Teammate Jean-Claude Andruet won the Rally Tour de Corse (France), providing Lancia with a Manufacturer's Championship in the first season of competition in the WRC.

Lancia returned in 1975 to defend its title and did so with the addition of Swedish driver Bjorn Waldegaard. Munari won the first event of the season, once again beating out two Fiats for the victory.

Waldegaard pulled off a stunning victory in the next round winning his home event over countryman Stig Blomqvist. Waldegaard went on to win the Rally Sanremo and third driver Bernard Darniche won the Tour de Course by half a second to provide the Stratos' fourth win of the season. This was more than enough for a second consecutive Manufacturer's Championship, once again over parent company Fiat.

The Italian-squad showed they meant business when at the Rally Monte Carlo Rally it was an all-Lancia podium with Munari, Waldegaard, and Darniche finishing on the podium together for the first time. Munari went on to win the third event of the season, the Rally Portugal.

The Lancia crew did it once more in Finland at the 1000 Lakes Rally when Waldegaard won, Munari finished second, and Italian Raffaele Pinto finished third. The next event, the French Tour de Corse saw Munari and Darniche finishing one-two, making it Lancia's third consecutive Tour de Corse victory. Lancia's performance was utter dominance as they claimed their third consecutive Manufacturer's title.

Munari won the Monte Carlo in 1977 making it three consecutive victories for Lancia at the event. However due to conflict with parent company Fiat who wanted to have a more successful program and win the Manufacturer's Championship (which they did), Lancia did not compete to its fullest extent and only finished on the podium twice during the rest of the season.

Munari however, still edged out former teammates Waldegaard and Darniche for the FIA Cup for Drivers (now the WRC Driver's Championship).

Lancia did not see success in 1978 'til late in the season, when Markku Alen won the Rally Sanremo providing the Italian-make with their first victory since the Monte Carlo Rally in 1977.

Tony Carello would go on to win the Spanish Rally. The two victories, however, would not be enough to place in the top five in the Manufacturer's standings and once again marked a disappointing season for Lancia and the Stratos.

The Stratos continued to win in 1979, despite being an aging machine. Darniche returned to the wheel of a Stratos and won the first event of the season, the Rally Monte Carlo. The Stratos won again in Rally Sanremo with Antonio Fassina driving and in Darniche again in France. The three victories was enough for third place in the Manufacturer's standings—however, they were all privateer victories, as Lancia's factory team was not as successful.

The Stratos finished once on the podium in 1980 and won its last event at the 1981 Tour de Corse with Bernard Darniche once again piloting it to success.

The sleek and very "alien" Stratos (aptly named) had a profound impact on rallying. Not only was it extremely successful, but the rear-wheel drive supercar displayed the success a brand had when it built a car for rallying purposes. Since then, manufacturers have either created cars for rallying (such as the Audi Quattro or Subaru Impreza) or heavily modified cars (Peugeot 307), following in Lancia's steps.

The Stratos is by some still considered one of the finest designed rally cars to this day, and not many can disagree that it is one of the best rally cars of all time.

In an interview published in British-based motorsport magazine Autosport, the multiple rally world champion Sebastien Loeb has cast doubt on whether he will continue in the sport when the category introduces Super 2000 regulations, culminating in a complete switchover by 2011.

The five-time world champion, who also heads the 2009 standings after wins in both of the opening events, is quoted as having some damning opinions of the new regulations.

"I have a good idea of the speed [of S2000 cars], and the times are quite slow."

"The dream for the spectators won't be the same. When they are standing and watching a car thinking "maybe my own car is faster than this one," the excitement will not be the same as it is with the World Rally Car."

The S2000 rules are being introduced partially in the hope of boosting the flagging WRC and is part of the cost-cutting measures that many racing series are introducing to combat the economic downturn, especially that affect car sales.

However, Loeb is skeptical as to whether the purely economic benefits are worth the loss of the current specification. He said "I know it's important that we make some savings with the costs, but I don't think the turbo is expensive."

The turbo is the only major loss to the series should it switch to S2000 regulation (four wheel drive is allowed in S2000 rally cars, the only difference between them and the better known Touring Cars).

However, it seems Loeb is still to be convinced of the merits of the new rules.

Many have commented that Loeb could leave the WRC as soon as the end of this year, when his current contract with Citroen ends.

But what would he do next?

Loeb seems to be more than interested in the world of sportscars. He already has a second place in the Le Mans 24 hours to his name, when he completed the 2006 with Pescarolo Sport.

He already has a deal to test Peugeot's diesel 908 sportscar (Citroen and Peugeot are basically the same company) and is due to complete the test  "some time this season," he claims.

At first, it may appear this could in preparation to return to Le Mans with Pescarolo, who have entered a customer 908 in this year's race.

It would make sense, it keeps Loeb in the Peugeot-Citroen family and reunites him with Henri Pescarolo, and Loeb satisfies his main driver criteria, by being French.

However, hold the various racing calendars side by side, and you will see that this year's Acropolis Rally clashes directly with this year's La Sarthe race on the 12-14 June weekend, and Loeb would not miss a round of the WRC to compete, would he (would he?)

This makes it look like a long-term plan to move to sportscars with Peugeot, and the fact he is testing this year seems to suggest that any move is coming sooner rather than later.

Source and Quotes: Autosport, March 5

Seven stages, seven victories: Such was Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke's day at the Rally Internacional de Curitiba at the conclusion of the first day. The U.K. driver completed the nearly 10-kilometre seventh and the day’s final stage in a time of 3:55.2, creating a perfect finish to as close to a perfect day one can have in Rallying.

"It's been the perfect day for me. I've really enjoyed myself driving this car over these fantastic roads. I have to say that this is one of the best rallies I have ever driven on.” Said Meeke.

“It's amazing how when you have a good feeling with the car, everything just comes easily. The contrast with Monte Carlo could not be greater: I think Monte Carlo was the most difficult rally I have ever done. Here, I'm feeling very confident.”

The only real challenge to Meeke’s perfect streak happened during the last stage when Anton Alen in his Fiat-Abarth Grande Punto took second place only 0.3 seconds behind.

Meeke’s performance left no doubt who was leading. The real action was for second place. It was at end of the final stage of the day that factory Abarth Grande Punto driver Giandomenico Basso nipped Nicolas Vouilloz in his Peugeot Belgium 207 S2000. 

The two drivers both enjoyed a clean runs the entire day with no problems, but in the end it was Basso who overhauled the reigning IRC champion. Both are looking forward to continuing their dual on the final day of the rally tomorrow were they will start the day separated by just 0.3 seconds.

Extremely strong was delivered by Argentinean driver Alejandro Cancio driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Cancio set times that were never out of the top six and concluding the day with a third-fastest time on the final stage of the day which landed him in fourth place.

For finishing second in January's opening round of the IRC in Monte Carlo Peugeot Belgium's Freddy Loix was rewarded with the uninviting assignment of sweeping it clean for all the following competitors.

He consequently lost a lot of time sliding on loose gravel and ended in fifth place overall, 18 seconds behind Cancio.

Rounding out the point-scoring places was The Paraguayan Victor Galeano in sixth, ahead of the top two Brazilian competitors Oswaldo Scheer and Paulo Nobre in their Mitsubishis.

The hard and compacted surfaces of Brazilian gravel roads claimed their share of victims today.

Anton Alen impacted his factory Abarth Grande Punto with a rock on a first gear corner towards the end of third Special Stage, which punctured his left rear tire and also damaged a suspension joint.

Alen, who had been running in a strong second place, made emergency repairs on the side of the road.  The Finn then lost time having to drive slowly through the next stage.

Back at the service parc, his mechanics repaired the car to full health and Alen was able to return to his previous pace, setting the aforementioned time on the final stage of the day.

Marcos Ligato from Argentina was running in an admirable fifth place until SS4, when he picked up a tire puncture that he did not stop to change. Regrettably, the rubber from the flailing tire damaged the radiator of his Mitsubishi, which ended his day.

The top three places for the IRC’s 2WD Cup are all being claimed by local Brazilian drivers led Rafael Tulio in a Peugeot 206 S1600. Luis Tedesco is second, just over a minute behind in a Fiat Palio S1600. Peugeot's Marcos Tokarski is third in this fiercely contested category.

IRC RESULTS AFTER SS7, RALLY INTERNACIONAL DE CURITIBA (BRAZIL)

1 Meeke/Nagle    Peugeot 207 S2000    50m47.0s
2 Basso/Dotta    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +48.6s
3 Vouilloz/Klinger    Peugeot 207 S2000    +48.9s
4 Cancio/Garcia    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +1m03.6s
5 Loix/Smeets    Peugeot 207 S2000    +1m22.5s
6 Galeano/Fabiani    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +2m31.6s
7 Scheer/Rocha    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +5m36.6s
8 Nobre/Paula    Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9    +7m03.6s
9 Tulio/Valandro    Peugeot 206 S1600    +8m22.2s
10 Alen/Alanne    Abarth Grande Punto S2000    +9m32.9s

Quotes and Photo courtesy of the IRC.

Why support them?

• Sebastien Loeb is possibly the best ever WRC driver
• They're breaking WRC records left, right and centre
• They prepare the finest food in the WRC service park
• The word compromise is not in the Citroen dictionary

The results speak for themselves: Manufacturers' champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008, the power behind Sebastian Loeb's championship victories in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Over the last six years, Citroen has been the team all the others want to beat.

And it's all happened relatively recently. Prior to 1996, Citroen could boast little success at rallying's top level, preferring instead to focus on off-road endurance events with its ZX Rally Raid. By the mid-1990s, though, Citroen was turning its focus back to pure rallying. Early development in 1996 and 1997 focused on the ZX hatchback, which claimed the Spanish national title in 1997 at the hands of asphalt ace Jesus Puras. In 1998, though, the focus switched to the new Xsara and work started on a World Rally Car in 1999.

The Xsara made its WRC debut proper on the 2001 Rally Catalunya. It was an impressive start, with Puras and Bugalski running one-two until they retired with mechanical problems. Bugalski took sixth on the gravel of Greece, but the car showed its real forte on asphalt, with Puras leading Sanremo and winning in France. Meanwhile a young Frenchman called Sebastian Loeb won the Super 1600 title in a Citroen Saxo and joined the team to score second in Sanremo.

In 2002, Citroen competed in just eight rounds of the WRC, focusing on development of the car away from the stages ahead of its first full-time assault in 2003. Early results were mixed before the benefits of testing were felt with a strong performance in the Safari, but it was again on asphalt that Loeb and Citroen made their presence felt, with Sebastien winning in Germany.

For 2003, Loeb faced an all-star line-up of rivals including Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, but the team stalwart raised his game superbly, going head-to-head with Subaru's Petter Solberg for the title and helping the team to its first manufacturers' title. Citroen pledged to give Loeb the drivers' crown in 2004 and delivered in spades, with a campaign that remains one of the most dominant in the WRC's recent history.

Off-season focus on a new C4 WRC opened the possibility that Citroen could be beaten in 2005, but renewed focus, superb Michelin tyres and a stunning campaign by Loeb produced new WRC records for wins in a season (10 for Loeb; 11 for Citroen) and successive wins (six for Loeb) as well as both titles.

In 2006 Citroen took a year out of the WRC. The reigning manufacturers' champions were represented at rallying's top level instead by privateer outfit Kronos Racing which ran an updated, 2006-spec version of the Xsara WRC. The team gave Sebastian Loeb his third consecutive drivers' title.

For 2007 the full Citroen Sport squad was back, this time with the eagerly awaited C4 WRC. Loeb was back in red and white overalls too, with Dani Sordo supporting in a second C4. Loeb's title defence got off the best start with victory on the first round in Monte Carlo. And although he faced some tough competition from Marcus Gronholm, Loeb went on to take eight wins in the season and clinch his third consecutive drivers' title.

In 2008 the potent combination of Citroen, Loeb, Sordo and the C4 WRC were back in the title hunt and once again they delivered, scattering records left, right and centre. After securing his fifth consecutive drivers' title on the penultimate round in Japan, Loeb and Sordo wrapped up the manufacturers title for Citroen on the final round. Can they do it again in 2009?