Loose Bonnet Gives Sebastian Loeb Sixth WRC Title

Correspondent Written on October 25, 2009

KINGSCLIFF, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Sebastien Loeb of France and the Citroen C4 Total team celebrates winning the Repco Rally of Australia on September 6, 2009 in Kingscliff, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

I thought that World Rally Championship drivers were tough.

But apparently a “loose bonnet” being worn by title challenger Mikko Hirvonen allowed Sebastian Loeb to win the Rally GB and claim his sixth consecutive WRC title.

No wonder Loeb didn’t pass the FIA physical for a Formula 1 drive in Abu Dhabi.

[Hold on, hold on. I'm getting messages from Grace and Todd. Wait, a bonnet is what? Seriously? OK. That is different. Back to our story.]

Loeb led the Rally GB throughout the weekend, but what really sealed the victory was the hood—aka bonnet—on Hirvonen’s Ford coming loose and restricting his vision. Loeb ended up cruising to victory with more than a minute’s cushion.

Here’s the key details via Autosport :

Sebastien Loeb has won the World Rally Championship for a record-extending sixth time after claiming Rally GB victory.

The Citroen driver had arrived at the season finale one point behind Mikko Hirvonen and facing his toughest title battle in many years, but led the rally throughout.

Hirvonen (Ford) admitted he had been too cautious on Friday’s opening loop, and mounted a fightback and cut Loeb’s lead from 9s to 2.4s by SS7.

But then Loeb all but secured the championship with an incredible performance on the next two stages, where he extended his lead to a comfortable 25s.

Hirvonen started closing in again this morning until his bonnet came loose and obscured his view on the penultimate stage, forcing him to stop and remove it, and leaving Loeb free to cruise to victory and the world championship.

It was great to see all the excitement that the competition between Loeb and Hirvonen caused this year. And now that we in America may actually be able to watch WRC, thanks to its recent TV deal, maybe that tight racing will generate some new fans in the U.S.

[And, I do know what a bonnet is! It was just too good to pass up. Don't believe me? Ask Todd what American MINI drivers mean when they talk about their car's boot.]

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written on October 25, 2009 Sports