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Olbia, Sardinia: Sebastien Loeb, Citroen's formidable Frenchman, yesterday added the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award to his rich repertoire of rally silverware.
With his victory in Rally Sardinia on Sunday, Loeb completed 40 World Rally Championship (WRC) career wins - the first driver in the history of the sport to reach the milestone.
The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award recognises parties demonstrating the same values that the UAE capital stands for: respect, innovation, integrity and teamwork. It also acknowledges a positive contribution to the WRC by any of the myriad of parties involved in the sport.
In his seventh year as a full-time manufacturers' driver, Loeb has now amassed a staggering 40 career victories, starting with Rally Germany in 2002. He has won four World Championships so far.
"Reaching 40 rally victories is a beautiful achievement for me and I'd like to thank Daniel [Elena, Loeb's co-driver], the Citroen team and all my fans for their support," said the Frenchman.
"I'd also like to thank my new friends at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority for giving me this wonderful award. It is a great honour. I have been watching the progress of Shaikh Khalid [Al Qasimi] since he joined the WRC - though not as closely as if he was driving a Citroen," Loeb joked.
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority officials praised Loeb's contribution to the sport.
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