KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Finland's Marcus Gronholm gave world champions Ford their first British rally win in 27 years today to end Subaru's run of success in the event.
Gronholm, who led through all three days of the season-ending race in the muddy forests of south Wales, finished one minute 35.5 seconds ahead of Austrian Manfred Stohl in a privately-entered Peugeot.
Subaru's Petter Solberg finished third, a further 19.7 seconds back. The 2003 world champion had won the last four editions of the rally.
It was Gronholm's seventh victory of the season, and Ford's eighth, and meant he finished just one point behind France's triple champion Sebastien Loeb in the final drivers' standings.
Double champion Gronholm also became the most successful Finnish driver in the world rally championship, at least in terms of race wins.
His 25th career victory lifted him to equal third in the all-time lists, ahead of Tommi Makinen.
Loeb, driving for Kronos Citroen before the French manufacturer's full return next year, was crowned champion for the third successive year in October even though he has not raced since breaking his arm in a fall off a mountain bike the month before.
The Frenchman, who missed the last four rallies, ended with 112 points to Gronholm's 111. Gronholm's compatriot and team mate Mikko Hirvonen, who retired on the first day in Britain, was third with 65.
Ford scored 195 points, a record under the new scoring system, with Kronos Citroen runners-up on 166 and Subaru third with 106.
Top Finn
The last Ford driver to win the team's home race was Finland's Hannu Mikkola in 1979.
"It's fantastic to win again and this ends a great season in perfect style," said Gronholm in a team statement. "It was made easier for me yesterday when Petter had problems and since then I have had the rally under control.
"I can't believe I have moved ahead of Tommi to become the most successful Finn ever," he added. "That's an achievement I could never have dreamed of when I started in the sport."
Solberg, who has not won all year, was second after the first day but his challenge ended on Sunday when he first slid into a ditch on the treacherous roads and then swiped a gatepost, damaging his steering.
Solberg dropped a further 20 seconds after suffering a puncture and then spinning on today's second of four stages before the ceremonial finish in Cardiff.
Second place was Stohl's best result of the season.
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala was fourth for the Stobart-Ford team, with Spaniard Xevi Pons fifth for Kronos and Australian Chris Atkinson sixth for Subaru.
The 2007 season starts in Monte Carlo next month.
- REUTERS
