Loeb beats Rossi to Monza glory

Sebastien Loeb has won the Monza Rally Show despite Daniel Elena, the man who has co-driven him to eight world titles, getting the weekend off.

Instead, Loeb’s wife Severine partnered him in his Citroen DS3 WRC for the nine-stage event, based at the Italian Grand Prix venue near Milan from Friday until Sunday.

Mrs Loeb traditionally accompanies her husband on a rally each season. They were fastest on six stages and claimed victory by 24.2s over MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, (pictured above) who was driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC alongside Carlo Cassina.

Multiple Monza Rally Show winner Rinaldo Capello finished third in a second DS3 WRC, while World Rally championship podium finisher Dani Sordo was fifth in a privateer MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Rossi carried a tribute to former bike racing rival Marco Simoncelli. The Italian lost his life in the Malaysian MotoGP round last month and had been due to compete at Monza in a Fiesta RS WRC.

The Loebs also won the event-closing Rally Master competition, again beating Rossi and Cassina.