World Champion Sébastien Ogier took the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB title after a thrilling last day of the event which finished in Llandudno.
After a final stage delayed by accident between two motorcyclists from a display team, Ogier slipped and slid his way round the Great Orme to finish ahead of the pack.
Jari-Matti Latvala snatched the Frenchman’s slender overnight lead before Ogier fought back to regain the initiative in the penultimate speed test and win the four-day gravel road encounter by 10.6sec in a Ford Fiesta.
Latvala, driving a Toyota Yaris, finished 24.5sec ahead of team-mate and fellow Finn Esapekka Lappi.
In the battle for the FIA World Rally Championship, Thierry Neuville’s final day surge to fifth left him with a seven-point advantage over Ogier with two rounds remaining.
Ogier said: "It was a huge weekend, such a tough fight! The Toyota were very strong. In the forest it was very difficult to stay in front but I think we did an amazing time in SS22, and then on tarmac, a surface I like, we managed to do some good time again. I'm very happy!"
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