As it happens, the fight did not come down to a third rubber after Ekstrom pulled off a major surprise by beating Loeb in his own Citroen Xsara WRC, the Swede using his rallying experience to do something few people had managed to do through the year and actually beat the Frenchman at his own game.
With the advantage now in the former DTM Champion's favour, Ekstrom and Loeb replaced their Xsaras for the potent Megane Trophy's, but unlike the first exchange there was little surprise in the outcome with Ekstrom pulling a comprehensive six second lead out on his rival by the chequered flag to give himself a 2-0 unassailable lead.
Indeed, Ekstrom was delighted to secure one of the finest moments in his ‘life', pointing out his win over Loeb in the rally car as being the particular highlight.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have won The Race of Champions," said the euphoric Swede. "It's the best moment in my life. Better even than winning my DTM title in 2004. And I'm especially proud to have beaten Loeb in his own car. I knew before that race that it would be tough and I just told myself to go for it. I didn't get off to a very good start but then the adrenalin kicked in and I fought back. Unbelievable."
His win was made all the more impressive by the fact that Ekstrom had been nursing a stomach bug for most of the day and was then given far less track time than his rivals when Team Scandinavia was dumped out in the first round of the Nations Cup having only got one run in.
"When I woke up this morning I had a bad stomach and I've eaten nothing all day," he added. "But I really wanted to get a good result and I definitely didn't like being knocked out of the ROC-Nations Cup with Tom Kristensen so early on.
"This is the type of circuit where if you make just one mistake it's finished. And if you only give it 99% you are beaten. To beat Seb in his own car you need to be absolutely spot on."
![Mattias Ekstrom celebrates winning Race of Champions 2006 [pic credit: www.raceofchampions.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/283351.jpg)
