* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA

Loeb, 33, becomes only the third driver to win the World Rally Championship "crown" four times in the 34-year history of the WRC and equals Tommi Mäkinen's record of four consecutive Driver's titles.

"This was definitely my hardest battle for a World title," confirmed Loeb who climbed onto his car's roof at the finish line. "When I started 10 years ago I had nothing and now I have four World titles.

"It's a very good feeling to win this year as I've had a very hard battle with Marcus [Grönholm] all season. To win by four points is a really good moment for me."

The Citroën C4 driver began the three-day, 787-mile WRC finale only needing to finish sixth and was content to allow Hirvonen to cruise to a comfortable maiden Rally GB victory and stalk the Finn's BP Ford World Rally Team-mate Marcus Grönholm.

Grönholm led the WRC since May but crashed out of the previous two events in Japan and Ireland enabling Loeb to snatch the series lead after victory in Ireland two weeks ago to take the initiative starting the 17-stage Cardiff-based event.

"I am disappointed, of course," reflected a crestfallen Grönholm. "I lost the title in Ireland. Will I come back? No, I've had enough."

The 39-year-old Finn ultimately finished a frustrated second in Wales and in the title race, 15.2-seconds behind Hirvonen with Loeb a further 77.8-seconds back in third. Grönholm, who now retires, had needed to record a third career Rally GB victory in what was his 150th WRC event to have had any chance of winning the World Championship for a third time.

"Apart from an off on the very last stage on Sunday which cost me perhaps 15secs, everything worked very well for me here in Wales," said Hirvonen. "This season has been fantastic. This is the best possible way for me to go into 2008, perhaps as the Ford team leader."

Hirvonen, 27, led the Rally GB that was celebrating its 75th anniversary, from start to finish to record his fourth WRC career win and Ford's 12th Rally GB success - three more than nearest rivals, Subaru. Hirvonen set the fastest time on six forest stages while Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland), who dropped from fourth to 15th on Friday's last stage when his wipers failed, set the quickest time on every stage apart from one over the past two days to salvage 10th place at the Cardiff finish. Latvala is tipped to replace Grönholm in the Cumbria-based "factory" Ford team.

Former four-time Rally GB winner Petter Solberg, of Norway, co-driven by Welshman Phil Mills, brought their Subaru home in fourth place.

Matthew Wilson, the 20-year-old son of BP Ford World Rally Team Director, Malcolm, moved up one place from his overnight position to claim sixth place - his third consecutive top-seven WRC finish in his Stobart Ford and his best Wales Rally GB result in four attempts.

For the second year, Wales Rally GB provided the finale to the seven-round Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship, with two scoring opportunities for the 23 contenders who left the Ceremonial start in Cardiff on Thursday evening.

Theoretically six drivers were in contention for the title, but the odds favoured Mark Higgins, Guy Wilks and Gwyndaf Evans.

Co Durham's Guy Wilks, 26, steered his Mitsubishi home in to 13th place overall, first in the Production car category, to secure the overall 2007 British Rally Championship title.

Dense fog on Friday's opening day was replaced by heavy rain and sometimes hail showers over the past two days making the narrow forest tracks a mud bath. Competitors labelled the conditions as some of the worst experienced on the British event in recent years.

WRGB Results: http://www.wrc.com/page/Overview/0,,10111,00.html
WRGB Photos: http://walesrallygb.com/78_83.php

The 2008 Wales Rally GB is scheduled to be based in Cardiff with the ceremonial start on Thursday 27th November.

WRGB Land Rover Challenge

Wales Rally GB Land Rover Challenge was a new event for a member of the Armed Forces in identical Land Rover Wolf's, contesting all 17 special stages.

Running in a separate National B status event, behind the International rally, the six crews were driving diesel-powered vehicles prepared by themselves, with service teams from their Regiment or MOD base.

Major Alan Paramore, co-driven by Major James Sunderland were emphatic winners of the event, finishing over eight minutes ahead of the West Wales crew of Gari Hazelby and Pete Evans with Andrew Tidbury and Shaun Mitchell in third place.

Six vehicles started and all six finished.

The mix of Nationalities amongst the major award winners reflected the popularity of Wales Rally GB, which attracted competitors from 32 countries and an entry of 108 cars - the largest in this year's WRC and the best UK total for six years.

Of the 108 official starters, 88 were classified as finishers.

The Wales Rally GB Land Rover challenge attracted six entries;