Hirvonen set fastest time on 11 of the 26 narrow and muddy special stages in the area around Sapporo, the main City on the island of Hokkaido, to repeat his 2007 victory.
Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikka Antilla finished second, helping Ford to take a maximum 18 points in the FIA World Rally Manufacturers' Championship, ensuring the battle for this title will go to the 15th and final round in Wales.
Loeb started Rally Japan with a 14 point lead over Hirvonen, so could afford to take no risks in the ever-changing weather conditions, which accounted for two stages being cancelled because of snow. Despite his cautious approach he endured an anxious moment on the 28th and penultimate stage when a differential problem caused the car to spin within 200 meters of the stage finish. However after completing one more short stage he and Daniel Elena climbed onto the roof of their C4 at the finish control, waving a French flag in celebration. "It's incredible!" said Loeb. "But that was a terrible rally - it couldn't have been trickier! It's a great moment. It's perfect. I'm so relieved this weekend is over now. Last year Daniel and I equalled the record with four wins, so being the only ones to do five we are very happy!"
For Loeb and Elena, Japan winners in 2006, they have now won 46 WRC qualifying rounds during their 10 year partnership and, subject to FIA confirmation, a record-making five consecutive FIA World Rally Drivers' Championships.
Their Spanish team mates Dani Sordo and Marc Marti, at the request of the Citroen team, stopped before the finish to enable them to run a new engine on Wales Rally GB, in accordance with the regulations.
Citroen's 23 point advantage over the Cumbria-based Ford Team in the Manufacturers' Championship has been reduced to 11. There are 18 points available on Wales Rally GB so this title will not be decided until the Cardiff finish on Sunday 7th December.
Petter Solberg and Welshman Phil Mills restarted on Sunday morning under SuperRally rules following an accident Saturday evening which ripped the right-hand rear suspension off their Subaru Impreza WRC 2008. The Norwegian was the fastest driver through Sunday's first test, the short and icy Koyka spectator stage, and said he was determined to round off his weekend with a string of competitive times. He eventually set four fastest times and was classified 8th overall. His team mate, Australian Chris Atkinson, was fourth.
The Suzuki World Rally Team - the home rally for the Japanese car-maker - celebrated its best ever result with fifth and sixth. "It's been fantastic," said Sweden's Per-Gunnar Andersson, who was fifth. We made a great start but after losing the tyre on Saturday I though that was it - but we got ourselves together and pushed hard again today." Finland's Toni Gardemeister said: "I'm really happy this rally is over - it's not so nice at all! But it was a good result for our team for sure."
Cumbria's Matthew Wilson and Scott Martin in their Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Focus WRC finished seventh, earning two World Championship points. The 21-year-old driver battled some treacherous stage and weather conditions to notch-up his sixth points' finish for the 2008 season: "Days two and three were a lot more difficult for me and I really struggled in the conditions which were some of the toughest and most demanding I have ever experienced. When I knew I was slipping out of the fight with PG and Toni this afternoon I backed off a lot to preserve the car and just cruised to the end to make sure I secured the points and move up to 10th in the Championship", said Matthew.
Unfortunately François Duval/Patrick Pivato (Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Focus WRC) retired from the event after an accident on stage six which saw the French co-driver quickly airlifted to Higashi Tokushukai hospital in Sapporo with a fractured pelvis and fractured tibia.
Brief news of the drivers and co-drivers from the UK; Suffolk's David Senior co-driving with Zimbabwe's Conrad Rautenbach (Citroen C4 WRC) and Wrexham's Nicky Beech, with India's Naran Kumar were not classified.
*Subject to FIA confirmation.
For news and results from Rally Japan (31/10 - 2/11), the 14th event in the 15-round FIA World Rally Championship, visit www.rallyjapan.jp/e/
For latest standings in the FIA World Rally Championship, news, video clips, etc; 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
Munchi's Ford World Rally Team; www.munchis.com.ar
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team; www.stobartmotorsport.com
Suzuki World Rally Team; www.suzukisport.com/wrc
Subaru World Rally Team; www.swrt.com
Other WRC websites;
Pirelli - WRC; www.pirellityre.com/web/motorsport/rally/wrc/default.page
The 15th and final round of the FIA World Rally Championship is Wales Rally GB. 4th to 7th December.
Ends.
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