Five-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb has been awarded his country’s highest public honor, the ‘Légion d’honneur’. Presented by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, the title is the French equivalent to a knighthood.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Loeb said, “This award is given to an individual, but I would like to share it with each and every member of the Citroën team. Every time that we hear the French National Anthem played at the end of a rally, we all feel exactly the same pride at having showcased France to the best of all our abilities. I hope now that I can continue to worthily represent my country by claiming a sixth consecutive World Rally Championship title at the end of this year.â€
With a near perfect start to the 2009 season, which includes five wins from six starts, I dare say that sixth title can already be pencilled in.
CITROEN’S LOEB KNIGHTED
Sébastien Loeb, Citroen’s world-beating rally driver, has received the French equivalent to a knighthood, the ‘Légion d’honneur’ from the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.
The ‘Légion d’honneur’ is the highest award that can be given to any private individual in France, instituted after the French Revolution. It recognises outstanding achievement from French citizens in any branch of the country’s activity, leaving aside social or hereditary factors. Loeb has won the World Rally Championship title five times and has won five of first six event in 2009 to have a substantial lead in this year’s title race. He holds the records for the largest number of career wins – almost twice as many as the second placed driver – as well as the most wins in one season and the longest run of consecutive wins. This has also been achieved in just two cars, the Citroen Xsara WRC and the Citroen C4 WRC, making them amongst the most successful rally cars of all time.
The ‘Légion d’honneur’ award ceremony took place at the Elysée Palace in Paris, where Sébastien Loeb was given his knighthood. Surrounded by his family, close friends and Citroen senior management, the five-time World Rally Champion was warmly congratulated by Nicolas Sarkozy.
“I am extremely honoured to have been recognised in this way by the President of the Republic,†said Sébastien Loeb after the ceremony. “This award is given to an individual, but I would like to share it with each and every member of the Citroën team. Every time that we hear the French National Anthem played at the end of a rally, we all feel exactly the same pride at having showcased France to the best of all our abilities. I hope now that I can continue to worthily represent my country by claiming a sixth consecutive World Rally Championship title at the end of this year.â€