The statistics say it all as Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena absolutely dominated the opening round of the2009 World Rally Championship in Ireland.

With no less than 11 stage wins, the five-time champion completed the final 1.5km Donegal Town special stage without drama to record his 48th career victory and his second in Ireland. “A tough rally,” Loeb declared after an understandably conservative run on the final stage. “It is tricky for everyone but now we are here and we won the rally. I try to continue like this.”

Dani Sordo and co-driver Marc Marti took the runner-up position 88 seconds behind Loeb in the second Citroen C4 in what was a solid start to the season for the Spanish duo. “A very good result for us and I am happy for me and the team,” Sordo explained. (more…)

Sold as the Atenza in Japan and the Mazda 6 MPS in Europe and Australia, the Mazdaspeed6 was first introduced in 2006 as a high-performance version of the Mazda6. It is designed for the driving enthusiast, with turbo-charged, all-wheel drive that provides superb performance and handling without compromising comfort on the everyday commute. The 2.3-liter, dual overhead cam engine with inter-cooled turbo, gives up to 274 horsepower with its close ratio, 6-speed manual transmission. The manufacturer offers this vehicle in two trim levels: Grand Touring and Sport Sedan; either are a great choice for a one of a kind driving experience. Many standard amenities including anti-lock brakes, anti-roll bars, and many high-tech interior features make the Mazdaspeed6 one of the best in its class. (more…)