During the 2000 season, Sébastien Loeb took advantage of a double programme of French gravel rally championship and World Rally Championship. In the WRC, he drove for the French FFSA team and competed in four rallies: two in a Citroën Saxo Challenge and two in a Toyota Corolla WRC. He ended this season in the World Rally Championship with the emblematic RAC Rally (Rally of Great Britain). In this Saxo he impressed and was second behind Ireland's Niall McShea, who drove a more advanced Saxo S1600. McShea had to retire on SS8 and Loeb took the lead. He crossed the finish of the RAC Rally 2000 in 38th position and won his class (A6)! It was one of the Frenchman's first WRC achievements and just the beginning of his long career.