Eight-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb has won Rally Driver of the Year at the 2011 AUTOSPORT Awards.It is the sixth time he has been voted the season's top rally driver by AUTOSPORT readers.
Citroen team manager Sven Smeets collected the award on Loeb's behalf from 1990 and 1992 WRC champion Carlos Sainz.
"At the start of the season it looked uncertain, even bad at the very start," Smeets said. "But we were very good in the middle and led by 40 points at one stage. We had a few mistakes, but it was a very good year."
Loeb took five wins and nine podiums during his 2011 campaign, but straight retirements in Australia and France meant he went into the season finale, the Rally of Great Britain, in a straight shoot-out with long-term rival Mikko Hirvonen in the fight for the 2011 crown.
Loeb led in the early stages, but slipped to second as Hirvonen attacked - only for the Finn to suffer damage which put him out of the rally and ensured a deserved eighth crown for Loeb.
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