Loeb takes title, Hirvonen wins GB

Ford driver Gronholm had to out-score Citroen rival Loeb by seven points in the season finale to snatch the title in his final rally before retiring from full-time competition.

Knowing that he was unlikely to achieve this unless Loeb failed to finish, Gronholm did not push flat-out for the win and instead held a steady second place behind teammate Hirvonen, who commanded the rally from the opening stage.

But Loeb managed to stay out of trouble all weekend and came home third, securing the points he required to secure his fourth crown.

"It's incredible," said Loeb. "To get the championship with only four points lead is not the same as getting it with 40 points (lead) like some years ago. It's a really, really good moment."

When asked if this was his most difficult championship battle yet, Loeb replied: "For sure, no comparison."

Having led the standings for much of the year, Gronholm said he still rued the Rally Ireland crash that had allowed Loeb to take the points lead going into the finale.

"I am disappointed of course, but it was a difficult rally this one, and we lost the title in Ireland," he said.

Hirvonen's third win of the season was somewhat overshadowed by Loeb's title and Gronholm's retirement. He almost jeopardised the result with an error in the final stage, but recovered to win by 15.2 seconds.

"We went off, and I didn't plan it!" Hirvonen joked. "This season has been absolutely fantastic, and finishing it like this is the best preparation for next year."

Subaru's Petter Solberg held off Loeb's teammate Dani Sordo for fourth place, completing the rally 17 seconds ahead.

"We did the best we could, and the team have worked very hard before this rally to do everything they can to get back on top," said Solberg. "It didn't work as we hoped, we thought it should be better, but we just have to push on more for next year."

Matthew Wilson (Stobart Ford) took sixth place on his home rally, eventually winning his rally-long battle with Subaru's Chris Atkinson by almost a minute.

The final point went to Manfred Stohl on his sponsor OMV's final WRC event, while Xevi Pons took ninth in the third works Subaru.

Having fallen from fourth to 15th with car problems at the end of leg one, Jari-Matti Latvala was thrilled to get back up to 10th by the finish, as he overcame Subaru privateer Mads Ostberg in the very last stage, finishing just one second ahead.

Latvala's recovery drive saw him win every stage in the final two days of the rally except the Saturday evening superspecial, and he regarded this performance as an even greater achievement than his maiden podium in Ireland a fortnight ago.

"This is one of the best moments in rallying," said Latvala. "Ireland was great, but this is something special. Of course Friday was disappointing, but it's amazing to get over it."

Final positions:

Pos  Driver     Make     Time
 1.  Hirvonen   Ford     3h50:22.9
 2.  Gronholm   Ford     +    15.2
 3.  Loeb       Citroen  +  1:33.0
 4.  P Solberg  Subaru   +  2:57.3
 5.  Sordo      Citroen  +  3:14.3
 6.  Wilson     Ford     +  7:32.9
 7.  Atkinson   Subaru   +  8:29.5
 8.  Stohl      Citroen  +  8:54.6
 9.  Pons       Subaru   +  9:48.8
10.  Latvala    Ford     + 10:42.4