The Finnish pairing have now won three WRC rounds in their BP Abu Dhabi World Rally Team Ford Focus and move into a three point lead in the Championship, with three rounds to go.

"I've watched this rally since I was kid and now I have won here myself and joined so many of the sports legends who have won here. It was great battle with Loeb and when he had his problem, I could afford to take it a little bit easier. " said an emotional Hirvonen, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday's first full day of competition.

Reigning world champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena opted to accept second place on Saturday afternoon and from then on preserved their Citroen Total C4 and defended their position.

Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were locked in a rally-long fight with Citroen's Dani Sordo and Marc Marti for third place, with the young Spaniard holding the advantage until Saturday afternoon, when the 24 year old Finn moved ahead. Latvala's performance was remarkable considering he started the day with a seriously upset stomach, which has left him felling unwell and drained of energy. These four contributed Manufacturer points to their respective teams. Citroen Total continue to lead, 14 points ahead of Ford.

Matti Rantanen was the best of the "Privateers" in fifth place by just 0.3 of a second ahead of Sébastien Ogier in his Citroen Junior Team C4 WRC, after the 25 year old mounted a late charge.

Petter Solberg and Welshman Phil Mills were holding second place with their privately entered Citreon Xsara, until they sustained a puncture and then went off the road later in the same stage.

Cumbria's Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin in their Stobart Focus were eighth, his best result on this specialist rally and earning a Drivers' Championship point. His team mate, Henning Solberg finished 30th under SupeRally rules.

Martin Prokop won the FIA Junior World Rally Championship category in his Cotroen C2 and is now provisionally confirmed as 2009 Champion.

Group N was won by Juho Hanninen who fished 10th overall in his Skoda Fabia Super 2000.

Citroen Junior Team members Conrad Rautenbach - with Lancashire's Daniel Barritt - and Evegny Novikov both retired. Rautenback was ninth at the time.

In the league tables of fastest stage times Hirvonen won 10, Loeb seven and Latvala six. From 90 starters there were 60 classified finishers.

For news and results from Neste Rally Finland, the ninth event in the 12-round 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, visit http://www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/

For all the latest news, video clips, audio, etc, from the FIA World Rally Championship go to http://www.wrc.com/

WRC Manufacturer Team websites:

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team http://www.bpfordwrc.com/

Citroën Total World Rally Team http://www.citroen-wrc.com/

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team http://www.stobartmotorsport.com/

Munchi's Ford World Rally Team http://www.villagraracing.com.ar/

The next and 10th round of the FIA WRC is Rally Australia, 3rd to 6th September. For news visit http://www.rallyaustralia.com/

The 12th and final round of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship is the 65th edition of the Rally Great Britain, starting in Cardiff on Thursday 22nd October.