Loeb wins Monte as Mini dominates Dakar

Two historic rally victories got the 2013 motorsport season off to a flying start.

Citroen's Sébastian Loeb, with co-driver Daniel Elena, sealed his seventh Monte Carlo Rally victory, winning his home event after seeing of the challenge of fellow countryman, Sebastien Ogier in a VW Polo.

Loeb led the Citroen charge, with team-mate Dani Sordo finishing third qnd Mikko Hirvonen fourth. The drivers were hampered by appalling weather conditions with rain combining with heavy snow to create impossibly slippery stages and even leading to cancellation of two stages on the classic Col du Turini.

Loeb's seventh Monte Carlo win also matches Tommi Mäkinen's four consecutive victories on the world famous event.  It also puts Citroen at the top of the Manufacturers' World Rally Championship, although there is a long season ahead.

Meanwhile, another classic event - the gruelling Dakar Rally - saw victory go to rally veteran and former motorcycle winner, Stéphane Peterhansel with co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret in a privately-prepared Mini.  The German-based Monster Energy X-raid Team MINI ALL4 Racing cars took first, third and fourth place in the 8,600km event, which finished in Santiago de Chile.

Peterhansel, who has now won the event 11 times riding and driving a number of different types of vehicle, claimed his latest win was, ultimately "easy". This was his second cosectuvie year in the Mini. He finished the rally - acknowledged as one of the toughest in the world - more than 42 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Giniel de Villiers in a Toyota.   The motorcycle race was won by Cyril Despres.