Loeb out for Latin conquest

Numero Uno. There is no denying Citroën's Gallic driver Sebastien Loeb is exactly that: The best in the rally business.

The 35-year-old is the most successful rally driver in history. He has won the past five World Rally Championships (WRC) and has yet to finish anywhere but first this season – his four wins so far this year taking his total to a career-record 51.

Loeb's fiercest competitor is Mikko Hirvonen, but even BP-Ford's Flying Finn can't get close to the Frenchman.

Wins in Ireland, Norway, Cyprus and Portugal means Loeb already leads the Drivers' Championship by 10 points, despite only being a third of the way through the WRC season.

Rally Argentina got under way yesterday in the heart of the Cordobese Sierras as the drivers battle it out over the next two days for the chance to snare "his" title.

Loeb has won here every year since 2005 – more than anybody else in the 29-year history of the race – and he is in no mood to relinquish his grip on the Argentine crown.

The French manufacturer's lead driver has already dazzled Latin rally-lovers with the Citroën Road Show and is now hoping he can finish the week with another title when the race culminates outside Buenos Aires.

"In South America, we don't have any other choice than to go for victory," he said. "Rally Argentina holds so many special memories for us – not just because we have won the past four events."

While Loeb will undoubtedly be the star attraction in Cordoba, two other drivers are always sure to get a special welcome: Munchi-Ford's Federico Villagra and Luis Perez Companc are both natives to Argentina.

Villagra has ended the last two races in the points and will be keen to build on his two consecutive seventh place finishes this weekend.


Rossi bent on revenge

Italy's reigning world champion Valentino Rossi will look to regain the advantage in this season's MotoGP after reigning supreme in practice for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. The Yamaha ace set the fastest time of 1:48.545 in Motegi yesterday, placing him in position to stave off arch-rival Casey Stoney, who pipped Rossi to the post at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix two weeks ago.

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