Motorsport: Gronholm holds off Loeb in Monte Carlo

Finland's Marcus Gronholm held on after an outstanding recovery by world champion Sebastien Loeb to clinch his first victory in the Monte Carlo rally today.

The Ford driver took the lead on Friday when France's Loeb was handed a five-minute penalty after he failed to complete the last stage of the day following a crash in his Citroen.

Loeb won five stages on Saturday and chased hard on Sunday but Gronholm managed to hang on to finish one minute one second ahead in the season-opening event. Finn Toni Gardemeister came in third, 21 seconds further adrift.

Gronholm, who joined Ford after six years with French marque Peugeot, sealed his 19th win in the world championship with an overall time of four hours 11 minutes 39 seconds.

The Finn, who won two stages, said he had driven cautiously over the last two days.

"I was not pushing at all. We had a big vibration and there was smoke in the car. We were really afraid and took the boost off.

"When Loeb went off I just controlled my pace, but with him in contention it would have been very difficult."

Second place was a great disappointment for double world champion Loeb who was bidding for a record-equalling fourth successive Monte Carlo win.

The Frenchman, driving for the Kronos team since Citroen withdrew from the world championship, was in a class of his own throughout the race.

At ease on the mountain roads, he snatched 10 stage victories including the prestigious col du Turini stage on Sunday morning.

Loeb threw away his chance in the event he likes most when his Citroen Xsara skidded off a mountain road in the ultimate leg on the opening day.

Under rally regulations, Loeb was allowed to rejoin the race on Saturday, after his car was recovered and repaired overnight.

But a five-minute penalty for not completing the stage had effectively ended his chances of winning.

Ford team manager Malcolm Wilson was delighted with the victory and promised there was more to come.

"It was an incredible performance," Wilson said. "It's been very difficult for Marcus - it's totally out of character for him to just control his pace and though he was happy, I'm sure he didn't enjoy the driving.

"You haven't seen the best of the combination of Marcus and the car yet."

- REUTERS