Loeb makes it double Monte triumph
MONACO -- Frenchman Sebastien Loeb won his second successive Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday, the opening round of the 2004 world rally championship.
The Citroen-Xsara driver held off the Ford Focus duo of Estonia's Markko Martin and Francois Duval of Belgium for his fifth career victory.
Loeb drove cautiously to the finish, while Martin moved up one place as he edged out Duval for second. Twice champion Marcus Gronholm was fourth.
Reigning champion Petter Solberg was the big loser on the final day dropping down two places after suffering transmission problems as Freddy Loix and Gilles Panizzi moved above the Norwegian.
Citroen sporting director Guy Frequelin said afterwards: "Sebastien was calm before the start of the event which he began cautiously on Friday but upped the tempo to take the lead before once more being cautious towards the end of the race. It's was a sporting director's dream."
