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.
Click to enlarge
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.”
ENDS