SWANSEA, Wales (AFP) - France's Sebastien Loeb in a Citroen C4 on Sunday won the World Rally Championships for the fourth consecutive year by finishing third in the closing Rally of Great Britain.

The rally itself was won by Mikko Hirvonen of Finland in a Ford Focus with his compatriot Marcus Gronholm second also in a Ford Focus. Gronholm had needed to win the race to stand any chance of toppling Loeb.

The 33-year-old Monaco-bvased driver won eight out of 16 races this year and finished four points ahead of Gronholm in the final overall standings.

His three previous world titles from 2004-2006 all came in a Citroen Tsara, all with co-driver Daniel Elena.

The Frenchman is just the third man to win four world rally titles after Juha Kankkunen of Finland 1986, 1987, 1991 and 1993 and another Finn Tommi Makinen who also won four in a row from 1996 to 1999.

"This was definitely my hardest battle for a world title," Loeb said.

"When I started 10 years ago I had nothing and now I have four world titles. "It's a very good feeling to win this year as I've had a very hard battle with Marcus all season.

Loeb began the three-day, 787-mile championship finale needing only to stay in touch with the leaders and was content to allow Hirvonen to cruise to a comfortable maiden Rally GB victory while keeping a close watch on Gronholm.

The Finn had led the world championship standings since May but crashed out of the previous two events in Japan and Ireland allowing Loeb to snatch the series lead with victory two weeks ago.

"I am disappointed, of course," said a crestfallen Gronholm.

"I lost the title in Ireland. Will I come back? No, I've had enough."

The 39-year-old Finn ultimately finished a frustrated second in Wales and in the title race - 15.2-seconds behind Hirvonen this weekend with Loeb a further 77.8secs back.

Gronholm, who now retires, had needed to record a third career Rally GB victory in what was his 150th world championship event to have had any chance of winning the World Championship for a third time.