Gronholm elated with Finnish record

Gronholm, who led through all three days of the season-ending race in the muddy forests of south Wales, finished one minute 35.5 seconds ahead of Austrian Manfred Stohl in a privately-entered Peugeot, with Petter Solberg, winner of the event for the last four years, had to settle for third.

It was Gronholm's seventh victory of the season, and Ford's eighth, and meant he finished just one point behind France's triple champion Sebastien Loeb in the final drivers' standings.

Loeb, driving for Kronos Citroen before the French manufacturer's full return next year, was crowned champion for the third successive year in October even though he has not raced since breaking his arm in a fall off a mountain bike the month before.

Double champion Gronholm also became the most successful Finnish driver in the world rally championship, at least in terms of rally wins.

His 25th career victory lifted him to equal third in the all-time lists, ahead of four-time champion Tommi Makinen.

"It's fantastic to win again and this ends a great season in perfect style," said Gronholm in a team statement. "It was made easier for me yesterday when Petter (Solberg) had problems and since then I have had the rally under control.

"I can't believe I have moved ahead of Tommi to become the most successful Finn ever," he added. "That's an achievement I could never have dreamed of when I started in the sport."

Ford scored 195 points, a record under the new scoring system, with Kronos Citroen runners-up on 166 and Subaru third with 106.