Loeb dominated apart from a cautious start to Friday's stages

It was the sixth victory of the season for the Frenchman and extends his lead in the overall standings to 23 points.

Loeb moved to the front late on Fridah after a cautious start to the day, but went on to win all Saturday's stages.

He finished ahead of Finland's Toni Gardemeister in a Ford Focus with Citroen's Carlos Sainz of Spain third.

It was double world champion Sainz's final world championship rally before resuming his retirement - he was drafted in to replace the injured Francois Duval.

Loeb cruised through Sunday's final stages to safeguard his position in the championship.

Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm, who was in contention for the lead on Friday, was unable to make up for time lost to a driveshaft failure on Saturday and finished fourth.

We really are on a roll and I hope it lasts Sebastien Loeb

Loeb's win saw him match the 2004 record he already jointly holds with Frenchman Didier Auriol, from 1992, of six victories in a single season.

He has also equalled the record of five wins in a row of Auriol in 1992 and Italy's Massimo Biasion, back-to-back in 1988 and 1989.

But the Frenchman is now eyeing more success over the remainder of the season.

"Five successive victories, six overall since Monte-Carlo, that is great, and equalling records. Now we must break them," he said.

"It is important to always work at improving, that everybody stays motivated because one day the other drivers will get back to top form.

"We really are on a roll and I hope it lasts. The day that I don't win, I will be really disappointed."