Loeb en route to victory in Leon

The world champion easily held off the challenge of the Ford duo Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen to secure victory by a margin of 55.8 seconds.

Frenchman Loeb only clocked six fastest times from the 20 special stages but cruised to a second victory in Leon.

His latest win means Loeb is now just four points behind Finland's Gronholm in the championship standings.

Loeb took the lead when Norway's Petter Solbeg abandoned on Friday with an oil leak in his Subaru.

And he was never really threatened as Gronholm had to concentrate on recovering from a poor first day when he finished well down the rankings.

"We were maybe down to seventh or something on the first day so it's good to be second," said the Finn, who had the satisfaction of winning the final super-special stage.

But Loeb is already focusing on future challenges: "We are fighting (with the other teams) but we are not easily leading, so we have to continue to work and to improve."

Cumbrian Matthew Wilson had his best result of the season with eighth place in the Stobart Ford to pick up a point and go 14th in the overall standings.

Mark Higgins finished a creditable 10th for Mitsubishi.