The Championship was fought out over 16 events on five continents on surfaces as diverse as snow, asphalt and rough gravel. It reached its climax in Great Britain last weekend, where arch rivals Marcus Grönholm and Sébastien Loeb went head to head for the world title.

Frenchman Loeb and Monegasque co-driver Daniel Elena drove a strategic rally in appalling weather conditions to claim their fourth consecutive world titles.

Sébastien Loeb said:

“Winning a fourth title is simply great. This one has been really tough to clinch but we did it in the end. In my personal rankings I still think the first one has a special flavour, but this would come second if I had to choose. The competition was extreme with Marcus and I really had to push all year round to make it happen.

“Above all I am also very pleased for this title for the Citroën team, which has proven competitiveness and performance again, and with a new car. But especially so for Guy Fréquelin, our boss, who is retiring at the end of the month. Daniel and myself want to say thank you very much for everything he did for us and the team.”

Grönholm, in his final season in rallying, matched Loeb all the way to the last event. It was fitting that Grönholm, one of the most exciting drivers the world of rallying has ever seen, played a leading role in one of the most thrilling seasons in the sport’s history.

Marcus Grönholm said:

“This has been one of the most exciting seasons for many years. Our battle for the driver’s championship went down to the final round and the closeness of the competition was typified by Rally New Zealand where my fight with Sébastien Loeb ended with a margin of just 0.3 seconds after three days of flat-out driving. It doesn’t get any better than that.

“I’m delighted to be in Monaco tonight although I must admit its an emotional evening because having announced my retirement from the World Rally Championship this is my final appearance here as a driver.”

The FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers was another close-fought series, but the BP-Ford World Rally Team clinched its second consecutive title on the penultimate round in Ireland. In a Championship acknowledged as one of the toughest for production-based cars, the team did not suffer a single retirement due to mechanical problems after more than 5,600 kilometres of flat-out competition.

John Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford of Europe said:

"To win the FIA World Rally Championship, the toughest competition for production-based cars, for a second consecutive season is an achievement of which we are rightly proud.  I have attended several WRC events this year and seen for myself the blood, sweat and tears that go into being successful.

“Winning a title in the WRC demands so many attributes – skill, discipline, communication to name but a few. They all come together under one word – teamwork – and I'm proud of how effectively so many people have united to deliver a second world title and in so doing we have added another memorable chapter to Ford's great Motorsport history."