Latvalas chances of winning his first WRGB were boosted when newly-crowned eight-time World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb, retired on a road section after completing SS18 (Halfway 1) following a collision with a non-competing vehicle. No one was injured.

"What a way to celebrate! The whole year I have been waiting for a victory. It has been a long long time. A great way to finish the season. I was feeling very strong this morning and I felt it was going well. It's a great feeling, and there have been some very stressful and frustrating times. This is one of my great victories," said 26-year-old Latvala at the end of SS23, The Power Stage.

Norwegian Mads Ostberg and Swedish co-driver, Jonas Andersson moved into second place as a result of Loeb's retirement and held this position throughout the remaining five stages. Ostberg said at the end of the final stage, "I am so happy because this is my first podium since Sweden but it feels so different. I had to improve my performance on gravel to get this result."

Fellow Norwegian, Henning Solberg, and Austrian co-driver, Ilka Minor, winner of the 2011 Michael Park Trophy, finished in third place overall in their Ford Fiesta RS WRC giving Ford a clean sweep of the podium.

British driver, Kris Meeke and his Irish co-driver Paul Nagle in the Prodrive-built MINI started SS23 only 1.2 seconds behind Solberg but a spin put paid to a third place on the podium.

After seeing Meeke's time, Solberg said, "I took it very carefully. I knew it was OK when I saw his time. This was my first podium since Poland in 2009. Now I have to go home and get sponsorship for next year."

Commenting on the last stage, Meeke said, "It was a tall order and I gave it everything. I went wide and didn't have the grip from the front tyres. The car has exceeded expectations. We're at a very good level and know where we have to be. For sure we can push for a win next year. Hopefully I can get on the podium."

One place and 1m35secs behind Meeke in 5th place was Cumbria's Matthew Wilson teamed with Mads Ostburg in the Stobart team. Despite showing some of the fatigue of Saturday's fifteen hour day, Wilson said, "Tremendous rally. Massive event, liked the new format with fantastic stages - good for the rally."

Loeb's team-mate, Sebastien Ogier and his co-driver, Julien Ingrassia, won the Power Stage, and with it a bonus of three WRC points, in their Citroen DS3 WRC ahead of MINI's Dani Sordo and Wales Rally GB winner, Jari-Matti Latvala.

Scotland's John MacCrone, drove his Fiesta R2 to 23rd place overall and was first in Class 6. An equally impressive performance came from Londoner Harry Hunt who was classified 25th and was first in Class 5 in his Citroen DS3 R3T.

Welshmen Elfyn Evans and co-driver Andrew Edwards, were the leading Welsh crew in their Ford Fiesta R2 until they retired in Stage 16 on Saturday, after a heavy landing following the 'jump' in Sweet Lamb, which also claimed Jason Pritchard and co-driver Dale Furniss in their Suburu Impreza. At the time Jason was third in the P-WRC and 18th overall.

Australian Molly Taylor's retirement in Stage 17 on Saturday gifted the Ladies Cup to Becky Kirvan from North Lincolnshire who finished 41st overall. Kirvan said, "We are both very happy to make it to the end of the event, despite a few offs. We hope we can raise the funds to do it again next year."

The Skoda Fabia S2000 of Dutchman Kevin Abbring finished 12th overall and won Class 2 one place ahead of New Zealander Hayden Paddon who clinched the overall P-WRC Championship in his Subaru Impreza in Australia.

Sweden's Patrick Flodin finished 14th overall and won Class 3 in his Subaru Impreza.

The WRC Academy Cup, with its €500,000 first prize, was won on Saturday (subject to official confirmation) by Irishman Craig Breen, partnered by Welshman, Gareth Roberts. After finishing with equal points to his Estonian rival, Egon Kaur, the decision went to a tie decider in favour of 21-year-old Breen from Waterford in Ireland.

The Academy Cup, for aspiring drivers in a Ford Fiesta, was decided over 17 special stages and Finished in Builth Wells on Saturday afternoon.

Leading retirements included Mikko Hirvonen (overheating engine) in SS7.

Petter Solberg fractured fuel line and subsequent fire on way to first stage on Saturday morning. Kimi Raikonnen retired after leaving the road in SS12. Peter Van Merksteijn; went off the road in SS5.

For the first time in a number of years, the unseasonably mild weather was a welcome bonus for the thousands of volunteer marshals who freely gave their time to ensure the safe running of this, the 67th edition of the event which ran perfectly to time.

The 2012 Rally GB will take place from 13-16 September.

Leading positions at the close of Rally

1. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 3h27m03.5s

2. Mads Ostberg Stobart Ford + 3m42.9s

3. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford + 7m05.1s

4. Kris Meeke Mini + 7m12.3s

5. Matthew Wilson Stobart Ford + 8m57.3s

6. Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford + 9m27.1s

7. Evgeny Novikov Abu Dhabi Ford + 9m47.7s

8. Dennis Kuipers FERM Ford + 10m12.7s

9. Ken Block Monster Ford + 16m01.2s

10. Armindo Araujo Italia Mini + 17m01.6s

Some Driver Quotes:

Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) / Mikka Anttila (FIN) - Ford Fiesta RS WRC
What a way to celebrate, the whole year I have been waiting for a victory. It has been a long long time. A great way to finish the season. I was feeling very strong this morning and I felt it was going well. It was a very tough and I could not expect it to happen. It's a great feeling, there have been very stressful and frustrating times. This is one of my great victories obviously the first one counts and Finland was special.

Dani Sordo (ESP) / Carlos Del Barrio (ESP) - MINI John Cooper Works
Really nice season with MINI. We've had good results in 6 rallies. This car worked treally well, maybe needing more development. Unless something dramatic happens I'll be with MINI next year. I like the people, the team and I like the car.

Daniel Oliveira (BRA) / Fernando Mussano (ARG) - MINI John Cooper Works
It was a difficult rally but we finished and did the kilometers necessary although we had a broken driveshaft on that stage. We had some good and bad moments on this event. We need to remember that we don't have so much experience and we can build it up.

Dennis Kuipers (NLD) / Frederic Miclotte (BEL) - Ford Fiesta RS WRC
All I can say is "WOW" It's been a great year and I've gained a lot of experience. We have not decided about next year yet but will will try to stay in WRC.

Paulo Nobre (BRA) / Edu Paula (BRA) - MINI John Cooper Works
I have no experience of tarmac so it's very hard for me. Up to this far, everything is fine.

Kris Meeke (GBR) / Paul Nagle (IRL) - MINI John Cooper Works
It was a tall order and I gave it everything. I went wide and didn't have the grip from the front tyres. The car has exceeded expectations, we're at a very good level and know where we have to be. For sure we can push for a win next year. Hopefully I can get on the podium.

Michelle Mouton (talking about the WRC Academy) - You know of course its a fight, it's fight between all the young driver. The purpose of the academy is to find new talent, to see a group of young drivers learning. I think that we have a fantastic battle for the last event, it was a very selective competition so we are very happy. I think the formula is good and as you said to win every stages and get points for that I think is a good idea. Yea if you have some problem at least you can prove you can win some stages. It was a big challenge for the first year, Ford has been playing the game with us. Of course we know the situation but we hope it will work. We know motorsport is expensive. I was very pleased with the communication and the way they were (The Academy) at the conference. Not everybody can be the first one, this is good competition. I think it's just that you need to get the experience, you cannot become a professional driver in one year. They need to increase their experience on all the surfaces. All the six continents this year were represented, its fantastic, its what we want. Having Sebastien for the 8th title is really incredible. It has been to understand more, to learn. Maybe in the future try to involve more global championship and more manufacturers for the fight.