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Sebastien Loeb edges Gronholm in Japan

Sebastien Loeb swept to victory in the Rally of Japan here yesterday to claim a record-breaking 27th career win and tighten his grip on the world championship standings.

The French two-time world champion's win saw him move one clear of Spanish legend Carlos Sainz's career tally of 26 and left him a whopping 33 points ahead of Finland's Marcus Gronholm with five rounds of the season left.

"Oh I don't know, hopefully," the `Michael Schumacher of rallying' told reporters when asked whether he was now the best driver in the history of the championship.

Loeb, driving a Citroen for the Kronos team, came home 5.6 seconds clear of Gronholm in a Ford Focus after 27 stages in the northern island of Hokkaido.

It was a first ever victory in Japan for Loeb, who seized control of the rally on Saturday after Gronholm spun out to lose more than 20 seconds.

Gronholm's blunder saw Loeb open up a lead of more than 25 seconds heading into yesterday's final day and while the Ford Focus drivers pressured the Frenchman relentlessly the result was never seriously in doubt.

It was Loeb's seventh win of the season from 11 races, itself a record. Gronholm, who has won the other four races, was left ruing his costly slip but said he was satisfied with his final day's performance.

"I've no regrets about today," Gronholm said. "I couldn't have gone any faster today. The race was won and lost on Saturday."
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