Editing Sébastien Loeb (section)

====2009====
[[File:Sébastien Loeb - 2009 Cyprus Rally.jpg|thumb|left|Loeb during the shakedown in [[2009 Cyprus Rally|Cyprus]]]]
Loeb started the year by winning [[2009 Rally Ireland|Rally Ireland]] for the second time since 2007. He then won his first [[2009 Rally Norway|Rally Norway]] ever, after a fierce battle with [[Mikko Hirvonen]], lasting throughout the very final stage. Being first on the road through all three days, Loeb kept his lead, in the end winning with 9.8 seconds over Hirvonen. Loeb continued his good form by winning over Hirvonen in [[2009 Cyprus Rally|Cyprus]], marking his career 50th victory, and in [[2009 Rally Portugal|Portugal]]. His victory in Argentina, the fifth in a row in this country, was also his fifth victory in a row since the start of the season.

At the [[2009 Rally d'Italia Sardegna|Rally d'Italia Sardegna]], Loeb had a puncture after going off the road and dropped from third to fourth.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Beer |title=Latvala ends Loeb's winning streak |work=[[Autosport]] |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75574 |date=24 May 2009 |access-date=21 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527040136/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75574 | archive-date=27 May 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> Although he passed [[Petter Solberg]] for the final podium spot, he still finished fourth due to a time penalty for a safety rule violation; co-driver [[Daniel Elena]] had unfastened his safety belts before the crew stopped the car for a tyre change.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Beer |title=Penalty drops Loeb to fourth |work=[[Autosport]] |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75578 |date=24 May 2009 |access-date=21 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527144938/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75578 | archive-date=27 May 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2009 Acropolis Rally|Acropolis Rally]], Loeb crashed out from third place.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Beer |title=Loeb crashes out of Acropolis |work=[[Autosport]] |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76106 |date=13 June 2009 |access-date=21 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616102425/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76106 | archive-date=16 June 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> On [[2009 Rally Poland|Rally Poland]]'s return to the WRC, Loeb had another crash but he continued in the event under ''superally'' rules. After team orders issued for the [[Citroën Junior Team]] drivers and a late mistake by Ford's [[Jari-Matti Latvala]], Loeb found himself seventh but had lost the championship lead to Hirvonen by one point.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Beer |title=Hirvonen takes win and points lead |work=[[Autosport]] |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76606 |date=28 June 2009 |access-date=21 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804162733/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76606 | archive-date=4 August 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref>

By winning the [[2009 Rally Catalunya|Rally Catalunya]], Loeb reduced the deficit to Hirvonen in the title race before the final event of the year; once again trailing by a single point.<ref>{{cite web |title=Loeb wins Rally Catalunya |work=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] |url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.ASpx?AR=243797 |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=15 October 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501173111/http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.ASpx?AR=243797 | archive-date=1 May 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> The Frenchman gained the championship by winning the final event of the year, the [[2009 Rally GB|Rally GB]]. Victory was secured partly due to an incredible performance over SS8 and SS9, where in the course of only two stages Loeb extended his lead in the rally over Hirvonen from 2.4s to 25s.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Beer |title=Loeb wins Rally GB and sixth title |work=[[Autosport]] |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79758 |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=15 October 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027234610/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79758 | archive-date=27 October 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/world_rally/8324857.stm |title=Loeb secures sixth title in a row |date=25 October 2009 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028033133/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/world_rally/8324857.stm|archive-date=28 October 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>