Their team mates and local heroes Dani Sordo and Marc Martin finished a close second - having lead and then slowed to gift the lead to the Frenchman - to secure back-to-back victories in the FIA Manufacturers' title for Citroen.

"This one was tough," insisted Loeb, "because Dani was pushing very hard at the start, so we tried to fight, but we knew also that we mustn't make any mistakes just fighting together - it was so important for us to finish. But we were really confident. It was really a pleasure to drive again on tarmac - for me it's been a long time since we did it. And the result now should be perfect, I'm really happy, I enjoyed it a lot."

Hirvonen and his co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen drove a calculated rally to take third place in their BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC and retain a reduced lead in the WRC. The Finnish crew now rely on repeating their 2008 Rally GB success to secure their first World Championship title.

"It wasn't the best rally but, you know, it just means it's going to be all to do on [Rally] GB - and that's going to be some rally," said Hirvonen. "Not a bad weekend, though, now we'll see how it goes on the next one. I'm looking forward to it. I'm waiting for that fight - it's going to be a fantastic weekend. We'll see - it might be a bit exciting!"

Fourth place went to Norwegian Petter Solberg and his Welsh co-driver Phil Mills, who delivered their best tarmac result since the 2005 Tour de Corse, on their first outing in his Citroen C4 WRC under the Citroen Junior Team banner. The 2003 World Champion looked emotionally drained as he arrived at the finish line.

"This is the end of three years of frustration," he said. "I just don't have words for this now. I just keep thinking if... if I have been in a better position earlier, you know? It's wrong to say it feels easy, but it feels so special. It's a special moment for me to have this opportunity to drive this car. I thank the team and Citroen for letting me do this. I hope people see that I will be fast, but you need the support of a manufacturer team - it's impossible to do it alone. In Wales I will be up there fighting."

Citroen C4 Junior Team drivers Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia may well have finished higher than fifth had it not been for brake problems on Friday. The Frenchmen recorded two fastest times on his way to recovering the lost time.

Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila set fastest time on the 17th and final stage to finish sixth, after a trouble-free run.

Stobart VK M-Sport's Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin were seventh, describing this event as "probably one of the hardest tarmac rallies there is, so it takes a lot to master. It's been okay, a difficult weekend, with some difficult stages. I'm looking forward to Wales and getting back on gravel."

On his last rally of the season, Argentinean Federico Villagra took the final Championship point for finishing eighth in his Munchi's team Ford Focus. "We improved a lot this weekend so I'm happy to finish eighth and take another point. Every stage here it got better and better for us, so I'm very happy," he said.

Citroen Junior Team members Conrad Rautenbach partnered by Lancashire's Daniel Barritt were classified 11th overall.

The FIA Junior category was won by 22 year old Dutch driver Hans Weijs Jr. who finished 12th in his Citroen C2 1600. This was his first Junior World Rally Championship victory.

Former Irish Rally Champion Eamon Boland, co-driven by JJ Morrissey, was 24th in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10.

Penrith's Paul Bird with Ian Windress were 12th until their 2008 Ford Focus went off the road in SS14 - fortunately without injury.

In the league tables of fastest stage times Sordo won six, Loeb five, Petter Solberg 3, Ogier two and Latvala one.

From 69 starters there were 52 classified finishers.

For news and results from RallyRACC Catalunya - COSTA DAURADA. Rally de Espana, the 11th event in the 12-round 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, visit: www.rallyracc.com

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

WRC Manufacturer Team websites:

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

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

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

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

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