Hirvonen claimed the sixth WRC victory of his career

Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, driving a Ford Focus, moved to the top of the World Rally Championship standings after winning the Rally of Turkey.

The Finn came home 7.9 seconds ahead of compatriot and Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

World champion Sebastien Loeb of France, who started the race with a one point lead over Hirvonen, was third in the Citroen, 25.7 seconds back.

It was the sixth WRC victory of 27-year-old Hirvonen's career.

I will be back..we cannot win every time Sebastien Loeb

"Both front tyres are completely finished and we had a puncture on the left-front corner," said Hirvonen.

"I came so slowly through the last three kilometres. But it's a fantastic effort from the whole team."

Loeb was disappointed to finish behind his championship rival, but was happy to at least pick up some points.

"I tried hard in this stage, had a really good start and was faster, but we destroyed the tyres," he said.

"I only had one spare wheel so at the end I decided to go very slow to not risk a puncture.

"It was a good fight, but too much road cleaning. I will be back. We cannot win every time, better to get third than to retire."

Rally of Turkey final standings:

1. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Ford 4hr 42min 07.100sec
2. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford at 7.9sec
3. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 25.7
4. Daniel Sordo (Spain) Citroen 2:25.6
5. Henning Solberg (Norway) Ford 2:33.7
6. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 2:48.2
7. Matthew Wilson (Britain) Ford 4:24.2
8. Conrad Rautenbach (Zimbabwe) Citroen 7:46.7
9. Federico Villagra (Argentina) Ford 9:34.1
10. Barry Clark (Britain) Ford 14:48.8

Stage winners: Loeb 5 (SS1, SS7, SS15, SS16, SS18), Galli 4 (SS2, SS4, SS5, SS8), Latvala 4 (SS3, SS6, SS14, SS19), Hirvonen 3 (SS10, SS11, SS13), Aava 2 (SS12, SS17), H. Solberg 1 (SS9)