There has been much derision of the World Rally Championship in recent years, compounded by Subaru's withdrawal. But the category is bouncing back. David Evans explains how rallying is on the up after 2009

Sebastien Loeb looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. There were people everywhere – and they were all asking the same question. "Every round this year… go on Seb, say, it: you can do it. You can win every round this year, can't you?"

He just wanted to get out of there. But there lay another problem. The building was surrounded by thousands of fans who knew he was in the press office of Rally Argentina. And every one of them wanted him to write his name on their piece of paper, t-shirt, cap or semi-naked breast.

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