Rally Champions in profile

29th November 2005

This season, Matthias Kahle secured the title in the German Rally Championship for the sixth time. Sébastien Loeb defended his World Championship title. Learn more about the two drivers.

Matthias Kahle is not only fast, he also has a special sense of humour. Back in 1993, when he was competing in his first full season and was forced to retire from the Erzgebirge Rally, he commented with a smile on his face, "Suddenly there was a tree on the track." That’s typical of the man from Görlitz: He doesn’t take things too seriously, but prefers to work hard. Last season, this attitude earned him the sixth title in the German Rally Championship. In a Skoda Fabia WRC he claimed the top spot, just as he had done in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. No other driver has succeeded in winning the championship more often.

However, in 2005 Kahle had to put all his experience to use. After the penultimate round he and his co-driver Peter Göbel took the championship lead from Hermann Gaßner. At the season finale in the Lausitz region, the duo successfully defended first position. For many years, Kahle is has been one of the top German rally drivers. He had his breakthrough in 1996, when he won a scholarship course with Toyota. This marked the beginning of a rapid rise to the top of German rallying.

Matthias Kahle is to the DRM what Sébastien Loeb is to the World Rally Championship. With a record number of ten wins, he was undisputed champion at the end of the 2005 season. Loeb took the Rally scene by storm in 2003, when, for the first time he contested all WRC rounds, and, with three wins almost won the title in his maiden season. In 2004, he could not be stopped by his rivals, and was even more dominant than the season before.

In France, Loeb is a star, much like Michael Schumacher. To get away from the hype, he and his wife moved to Switzerland some time ago. There, the highly dedicated worker is able to relax and to spend time with his friends. In 2006, he resolves to break yet another record. He only needs six more victories to beat the record of Carlos Sainz. Despite the end of Citroen’s works engagement next season, it might be just a formality for him to take this record from Sainz.

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