Rallying: Loeb resumes winning ways with Ireland win

Sebastien Loeb got his defence of his World Rally Championship off to the perfect start winning the Rally of Ireland.

The Frenchman, chasing his sixth straight world crown, assumed the lead on stage four on Friday and was never headed as he led Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo and Ford's Mikko Hirvonen.

Entering the final day holding a lead of over a minute ahead of Sordo, Loeb opted for a conservative approach in the five remaining stages, winning only one of the day's tests.

"It's been a really tough rally but I'm very happy to take the ten points," said Loeb.

Norway's Henning Solberg took fourth place in his privateer Ford, his best finish on an asphalt rally, with Australia's Chris Atkinson fifth on his debut for the Citroen Junior Team.

Sebastien Ogier was sixth, Cumbria's Matthew Wilson picking up points in seventh and Khalid Al Qassimi rounding out the top eight.

Rally Norway starts 13 February.