WHEN LOEB ALMOST DEFEATED THE LEGENDS! The Story of the 2002 Monte Carlo Rally

In 2002, Citroen arrived in the WRC as a part time entry before arriving full time for 2003. And their secret weapon was a 27 year old former gymnast who had only started racing six years prior.
Sebastien Loeb had already had a WRC outing at the 2001 San Remo Rally and finished second, hounding a tarmac specialist the entire way. Now he was in a slightly expanded programme and was now up against the likes of McRae, Burns, Gronholm, Solberg and Makinen more often.
And on one of the toughest stages in rally, Loeb proceeded to dump 28 seconds on a 4 time champion, and would have likely won the whole rally if not for a penalty for a bizarre rule break.
So what happened? Let's find out...
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[@whyareyoureadingmynickname8158]

Man, 2002 season had such a strong lineup, it's crazy. Also, Loeb is one of motorsports GOATs and deserves a lot more praise.

[@wroomwroomboy123]

Loeb and Kristensen are in the same category to me. Widely considered goats of their craft. But wouldn't it be fair to say they are actually still underrated?

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

⁠@@wroomwroomboy123Both are for sure All I’m gonna say there’s a reason the FIA rejected his super license for a f1 seat… they didn’t want him to show up the ‘best drivers in the world’

[@paulreilly3904]

​@@wroomwroomboy123Absolutely with you there brother. You show not just good taste, but good judgement. Well said sir. 👍

[@MravacKid]

Fun fact: At the point when Sebastien Loeb won his last WRC drivers' championship, he had won *one quarter* of all WRC drivers' championships ever held. :)

[@bernardoberner4]

Kalle is pretty much the equivalent of Max Verstappen in rallying. Son of a former driver that had a moderately successful career, tho Harri achieved more than Jos. Both started when they were 3, tho Kalle didn't start in karts, guy started on a proper car, adapted to a todler of course. But you're probably right z he's one of the best drivers in the world rn. He can win rallies at his will, he is only 23 and already a 2 time world rally champion. An absolutel machine is what he is

[@AntoniusTyas]

2002 was one of the best year in WRC. I basically followed the entire round with enthusiasm, and it was the first time WRC highlights got broadcasted in our local TV channel in Indonesia. Was rooting hard for Marcus or Petter, and in the end I was happy that Marcus took the overall crown. Also, that Skoda Octavia which got stuck in a bit of a predicament in Monte Carlo was Roman Kresta's, if I remembered correctly.

[@TPH250290]

It's also worth pointing out that that was Makinen's last ever win. The 2002 Subaru didn't really deliver and then in 2003 he was blitzed by Solberg.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Definitely want the Mini story. Dad used to rally Minis (not in MC though, but definitely in black & white lol). Dodgy French stewarding, particularly back then, was hardly a surprise to anyone. Not even the French...

[@saltyskunk381]

The true goat of motor sports, a unicorn in a field full of horses.

[@ZeroHedgehog1996]

And the 2002 Monte-Carlo Rally was Tommi Mäkinen's last victory. Technically, Loeb has not won 4 Monte-Carlo in a row, but if we count only the WRC editions, he has won 4 times in a row (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013), because the Monte-Carlo was not present on the calendar in 2009, 2010 and 2011

[@andygreener3130]

I miss Ben Cole presenting… In an interview or piece to camera at a service stop, he gesticulated and swung his arm, resulting in somebody nearby getting a whack. His next words to camera will go to my grave with me😂…. He said “I just hit that man.” Looking back over his shoulder, he said “Doesn’t matter, he’s French.” F#c#ing LEGEND!!!😂😂😂

[@AidanMillward]

I’m watching the old reviews on KZbin. You can barely hear the commentary over the music 😅

[@CD-Gaming]

I'm going to have to refresh my memory here, aren't I, I don't remember that!

[@andygreener3130]

@@CD-Gaming Yeah, hilarious. I got his name wrong though, it’s Neil Cole

[@gozza18.77]

Ah, yes, the days of channel 4 highlights after each days running. Citroen xsara is still a controversial car before it was a full wrc car. In 1999, it won 2 rallies in the wrc as an f2 kit car 😆

[@legoferrari14]

Citroën still hold the record as the last 2WD car to win outright in a World Rally Championship event, so that Xsara F2 kit car is one of the most historically significant cars to ever race in the WRC.

[@markpenman1]

Best description I’ve seen of those F2 cars was “super touring cars that were made go rallying”

[@PuncakeLena]

Tbf they were lighter cars with the same horsepower. They just did trash on dirt because of the 2WD so they opted to make them tarmac beasts, hence their competitiveness on those events

[@GaryWagers]

Pausing early to comment: I love the Peugeot 206, having never driven one in my life. The reason? It was, as far as I'm concerned, the best starter car in Need for Speed Underground. Best handling, easy to drive, not too awfully slow... best car around, I think, and I was always sad once I got into higher difficulty races and needed the extra speed of some higher-tier car that I'd unlocked but just ignored because I wanted to milk the 206's performance as far as the game would let me.

[@shig.bitz.3205]

Ah this era of WRC was STACKED with teams and drivers. I remember this year well, I was a Subaru fan 😂 Loeb is one of those guys who is just somehow always fast. One of the greatest fo sho. I remember seeing a clip of Kalle in his rookie year absolutely sending it at Monte during a night stage. Said then that he'd be a champion, guy has crazy skills!

[@ianwynne764]

Hello Aidan: Thank you for the information about Loeb being a gymnast in a former life. It explains why he could do backflips after winning. Have a good day.

[@JakePetrolhead]

I generally don't like the whole "things were better in my day" thing, but man for WRC it really was. Early 2000's WRC was a true golden era, some of the greatest cars and drivers in the sport.

[@crystalracing4794]

It really was. Tragic what happened to Michael park, Burns and McRae. The withdrawal of Mitshi, Peugeot & Sub killed it. It just turned into Ford v Citroen like Holden v Ford in v8, which is not WRC

[@reptongeek]

Loeb also nearly lost his win in Deutschland that year too because he reversed on a special stage. I can't remember all of the details Another video idea was the top two Peugeots getting excluded in Argentina giving Carlos the win

[@JohnSmithShields]

I remember old Top Gear having a rally roundup every week.

[@williamross2579]

Idea for a story. SAAB legend Erik ‘on the roof’ Carlsson.

[@harrypreece6680]

WRC from around 96-05 is up there with Supertouring and the V10 F1 era

[@krzych91krk]

Quality stuff. Really enjoying your take on rally history, please keep the rally content coming!

[@jonnyspa27]

I’d forgotten about this but of history. WRC was on SpeedTV here in the States and I was tuning in every rally weekend. Since then it’s been a bit harder to follow here. Thanks for the video Aiden!

[@dukedub]

The soccer reference went over my head

[@WRC-FAN]

Love the rally content. I know rally is a bit of a fringe motorsport so it's not that easy to find stories like this as compared to F1 and that makes these videos greatly appreciated.

[@wiegraf9009]

Loeb is one of the all time greats. Truly a master driver.

[@hugoagogo9435]

Loeb Is one of motorsports greatest.

[@matzemunz2827]

Ah yes, I will never forget the looks at the dealership when I came there with my 4x12 to check if it fits in the boot cause that also was my main criteria. 😂😂

[@pranc236]

Ah yes the french being french. Great one! 👍

[@philllawrence1580]

5k to Moreno!!!

[@nowind37]

Aidan what's this song that you used in intro

[@covids12345]

A video on kalle would be cool

[@KenzieRetro]

i may just start watching rally now after this

[@nowind37]

Still memorable 😍

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Wasn't 2002 the year of Gronholm's massive one at the Margam Park stage or was that 2001? Also I'mm fairly sure it was 2002 when the whole Pug team got disqualified in I want to say Argentina. That 206 with the Esso livery is iconic but the silver livery is also awesome too

[@reptongeek]

It wasn't the whole team iirc. Gronholm got excluded because members of his team were too close to his car at service in the morning, then the first inherited winner Richard Burns was excluded for an underweight flywheel giving the victory to Carlos Sainz!

[@paulalexander8874]

Ah the early 2000s rally, some days! 🥺

[@barrycheesemore2928]

Wow, I forgot about the amount of superb drivers in the 2002 WRC season, and how Loeb was able to embarrass them in the Monte Carlo rally. And then going on the win 9 titles in a row, he as soooo good.....

[@mattyg267]

He deserved 2000 more than 2001 if I'm honest... I don't know about 'multiple championships' though.. his downfall was moving to peugeot in 2002 where he never really got on with the car. He should of stayed with subaru

[@crystalracing4794]

Richard Burns was capable of winning multiple championships and beating McRae's win record #RIP

[@bits2646]

I think Loeb was a sole reason for success of Citroen WRC programme

[@CD-Gaming]

Yeah, I watched Loeb back in the day and he was somert else, tha' can te'em! Man alive! I've seen him run, but despite what some may say, Ken Block had nothing - NOTHING - on Loeb! Hardly any bugger did! Course, one other plus of that time period was Marcus Gronholm who seemed incapable of giving boring interviews! It was a great time to be a rally fan and I can attest to Kale Rovempera's talent as well, he is phenomenal!

[@minibus9]

Excelent video

[@camrsr5463]

History kinda gives us a clue about the crazy things the French will. they love their rules so much.

[@vakar5734]

Sebastian Loeb is one of the few french people that I like

[@GeeShocker]

During Seb's reign there were three years where the Monte wasn't a WRC event, so the record is kinda screwed.

[@GeeShocker]

We still have a 206 in the garage. 💪

[@eamonahern7495]

My first impression of Loeb was a bad one because he got angry with his co-driver after a crash that wasn't the co-driver's fault. So when he started dominating the WRC I gradually lost interest because I could never like him after that.

[@pierrebousquet2898]

Toronto Blue Jays hat?

[@dav1dd552]

2005 rally gb

[@Official_MikeyT]

Why is it that French dudes named Sébastien are the best racing drivers?😂

[@Exponaut_R-01]

Even outside of F1, the FIA lags on important, lead changing penalties. Yeah this one had an appeal, but it muddies things and creates controversies when an event can end and heads are scratched

[@7stringbassist]

I'd love to see Kalle Rovanperä transfer across to single seaters.

[@dav1dd552]

a video about the 2022 rally croatia

[@Minx5892]

And all while this was happening, at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, a pleb was born.

[@LeafFerret]

You forgot the bring up the part where his two teammates retired before even making the first stage because both had engine or electrical issues so Seb was the only one Citroen had remaining.

[@AidanMillward]

Didn't forget anything

[@CasperEgas]

Who is Lobe?

[@djbadlt]

VAR?

[@captainmagenta899]

Makinen at Subaru never felt right, like he'd crashed through from a mirror universe or something.

[@AidanMillward]

Probably why never won another rally after this. Universe didn’t like it, it’s like Schumacher being in a McLaren

[@mgrzx3367]

1986 a Group B car would have qualified 6th for the Formula one GP of Portugal. Eat spam. LOL

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

2:19 they were right! Just off by a generation lol 😅

[@Rezcuz]

Shane the best out of all drivers? wtf

[@jamsstar2010]

Loeb wasnt racing anyone for 9 years I switched off and never watched wrc ever again I do like loeb but it was a bad time in general

[@crystalracing4794]

Does old Gronholm count?

[@enricoleite9556]

Why did Citroen withdrew the appeal?

[@AidanMillward]

Don’t know. Might have been a gentlemanly thing.

[@LD-oq9lx]

I'm not surprised by crappy stewarding anymore although it's a shame anglos think that biased steewarding and dodgy sporting decisions only happens in favor of pilots or cars who's country of origin can make good food.

[@mpainter22]

Here's a question, is Sebastian Lorb under rated/appreciated?

[@goncalomoura3410]

Shane van gisbergen contender to best driver in the world? Are you mad? He was solottered by McLaughlin for as long as they competed in equal terms in the V8 Supercars… He’s never shown the dominance of Wincup either in the same team… He’s on the risk of loosing the current V8 Supercars title against a smaller Holden outfit driver! Yes, Shane’s got brilliant racecraft, and he knows better than anyone else how to drive within the limits when it comes to the regulations regarding driving standards. But, contender to best driver in the world? I mean, not even close to contention… I’d go even further and say that he’s not even a great driver. Very good driver, yes, anymore than that, no…

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

1m30s before we start actually talking about Loëb. You're padding your videos for length?

[@AidanMillward]

I’m giving background and context as to what was happening leading up to the event. As I do in every single one of my videos.

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

@@AidanMillward less please. It feels like filler for you to talk about F1 for a solid minute in a WRC video.

[@AidanMillward]

@@AndrewGeierMelons I have to treat every viewer as if they’re new. That’s how it is.

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

@@AidanMillward almost 100k subs

[@SteveDull]

Peugeot had two refugees?? 2:07

[@diamondweightloss9510]

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