Int. Rally Driver: Marcus Gronholm
Two-time world champion Marcus Gronholm has won International Rally Driver of the year at the Autosport Awards
Autosport Awards
The Autosport Awards are a series of awards presented by motor racing magazine Autosport to drivers that have achieved significant milestones each season. Some of the presentations are selected by the general public via a reader's poll.
The Finn retired from the sport at the end of this weekend's Wales Rally GB, where he narrowly missed out on securing a third world title.
Gronholm battled for the title all season with Sebastien Loeb, but two costly accidents in Japan and Ireland eventually cost him the crown in his final WRC season.
"It would have been fantastic to win the title, but I made a mistake in Ireland so it was difficult," said Gronholm. "Seb was so strong and he was just doing what he had to do.
"The wins and the championships were good over the years, but being with Ford was like a family. It will be difficult now, this is my last day, and I don't know how it will feel without them.
"It was special at the end of the rally, but I think it will sink in later. We will see what it is like next year, maybe I will still be around in motorsport."
2007 world champion Loeb has won this award for the past three years, but Gronholm at least pipped the Frenchman to one accolade this year.
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