France's Sebastian Loeb started his world title defence in ideal fashion with a Monte Carlo rally hat-trick yesterday.
The Citroen driver was again a model of consistency in the three days of the season opener, beating ambitious Finn Toni Gardemeister's Ford into second place with Loeb's Mitsubishi-driving compatriot Gilles Panizzi third.
The Frenchman, also the winner in the principality in 2003 and 2004, is the fourth driver to win the classic rally three times in succession since 1970 after Finn Tommi Makkinen, German Walter Rohrl and Italian Sandro Munari.
"This was the perfect rally for us," he said. "Very much like last year. It was a very tricky event - lots of drivers made mistakes, but fortunately we didn't. It's very motivating to start the year with 10 points."
Had he not been disqualified on a technicality in 2002, Loeb would have equalled Rohrl and Munari's record of four Monte Carlo victories.
"To win three times here is great but deep inside I feel 2002 also belongs to me. Let's say I won three and a half," he said.
The defending champion's tactical approach was again flawless as was the reliability of his Citroen team, who will bid farewell to world championship rallying at the end of the season.
The Frenchman built a consistent lead on Friday and early Saturday, forcing his nearest rivals to fight back and take risks.
All the other leading contenders for this year's title faltered one after the other.
Loeb's Belgian team-mate Francois Duval slid out of contention when he hit a telegraph pole on Saturday.
Former world champions Marcus Gronholm of Finland and Petter Solberg of Norway were also stretched to their limits yesterday and paid a heavy price.
Solberg, the 2003 world champion, was forced to quit the race when he hit a wall after the ill-famed Turini mountain pass. The Norwegian lost control of his Subaru after fans spilled snow onto the tarmac, a Monte Carlo rally tradition.
Double world champion Gronholm crashed his Peugeot at the same spot but was able to continue, eventually finishing fifth.
The Finn's fastest time in the rally's penultimate stage showed his determination to challenge Loeb this season, especially as the Monte Carlo rally has never been his favourite event.
Gardemeister pleased
Gardemeister could well be the driver to watch this season. The Ford team leader was unable to match Loeb's pace but displayed the same mixture of caution and skill as the Frenchman.
He eventually finished two minutes and 58.3 seconds behind Loeb, with Panizzi 3:40 behind the world champion.
"I'm very pleased with this result, especially as it's my first rally with the team," Gardemeister said.
"They worked really well over the whole event. There were no serious problems at all. I've always done well on this event, but I like Sweden a lot, and I'm really looking forward to going there."
The next leg of the world championship is the Sweden Rally on February 11.
Panizzi's podium placing was also excellent news for Mitsubishi, back in the world championship for the whole season after a couple of years of part-time participation.
"They needed this success and now they and everyone else can see that Mitsubishi is back. Today we have arrived," the Frenchman said.