Loeb’s six appeal makes Dakar rally history

French driver Sebastien Loeb won a record sixth successive stage in the Dakar Rally on Saturday although barring a disaster Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah looks set for a fifth title.

Loeb, a record nine-time world rally champion, won the 13th and penultimate stage, a 154 kilometres special from Shaybah to Al-Hofuf, to break Finnish driver Ari Vatanen’s mark of five consecutive victories in 1989.

The 48-year-old Prodrive star is in second spot overall – the same position as he filled last year – 1 hour and 21 minutes behind Al-Attiyah.

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“It’s great, even though the record was not necessarily my goal,” said Loeb