PERTH, Australia (AFP) - World champion Sebastien Loeb of France wrapped up his record-equalling sixth win of the year as he coasted to victory over a depleted Rally Australia field.
The Citroen driver finished the 25-stage rally in 3hrs 39mins 46.8secs to join compatriot Didier Auriol as only the second man to achieve the feat.
"It's always nice to win so to win and equal a record is better," Loeb said. "We started the season with a victory and we finished with a victory."
Loeb, who finished 1:55.1 faster than Finland's Harri Rovanpera in a Peugeot 307, and 3:40.2 ahead of Belgian Francois Duval in a Ford Focus, had already secured the world championship in Corsica last month.
But he was virtually gifted Rally Australia after most of the top drivers were forced out. Spain's Carlos Sainz was injured during pre-race practice, Norway's Petter Solberg damaged the steering on his Subaru during super stage four and early pacesetter Marcus Gronholm of Finland retired after his Peugeot slid off the course on Saturday.
"I really was not happy when Marcus retired," Loeb said.
"I wanted to fight for a few races. Here I wanted to fight and I was alone. At the start it was difficult to stay concentrated."
Fourth place at Rally Australia, the 16th and final stop in the World Rally Championship, was taken by Finn Mikko Hirvonen in a Subaru Impreza.
The results meant Loeb finished on top of the world drivers' standings with 118 points, with Solberg second on 82 and Martin third on 79.
Two-times world champion Sainz, who is retiring, ended his career in fourth position on 73 points while Gronholm was fifth with 62.
Gronholm was treated for minor abrasions on Saturday after crashing into a tree while driving under special rally rules following his withdrawal.
Citroen also claimed the manufacturer's title with 194 points ahead of Ford on 143, Subaru on 122 and Peugeot on 101.
Citroen boss Guy Frequelin said the result would help build team morale for next season after Citroen and Peugeot announced that they would be pulling out of the sport following 2005.
In the production car class, disaster struck Scotsman Alister McRae driving a Subaru Impreza when he was forced out with gearbox trouble after looking set to claim both a class win and the drivers' title.
The setback allowed Northern Ireland's Niall McShea in to claim the drivers' world title while Japan's Toshi Arai won the class.
11/14/2004 - 14:58 GMT - AFP