Loeb Starts Season With Victory In Ireland

Rally Ireland has replaced Monte Carlo as this year`s season-opener.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb made a perfect start to the season and his quest for a sixth title in a row with victory in Rally Ireland on Sunday.

The Frenchman, who won 11 of last season's 15 rallies, chalked up the record 48th win of his career by leading Spanish team mate Dani Sordo in a commanding one-two for champions Citroen.

Loeb dominated the Sligo-based cross-border event, finishing one minute and 27.9 seconds ahead of Sordo and a further 39.9 clear of third placed Mikko Hirvonen, the Finn who finished third overall last year for Ford.

The victory gave champions Citroen a maximum 18 points in the manufacturers' standings depleted by the withdrawal last month of Japanese carmakers Subaru and Suzuki.

Rally Ireland has replaced Monte Carlo as this year's season-opener. Loeb also won the event when it was last on the calendar in 2007.