The 2009 World Rally Championship season has concluded with a 54th rally victory and more importantly an amazing sixth world title for Sebastien Loeb.

Seconds after crossing the season's final finish line at Rally Great Britain in Wales, the Frenchman and co-driver Daniel Elena jumped onto the roof of their Citroen team C4 and pumped their fists into the air as the crowd cheered on the freshly-crowned 2009 champions.

"It has been a very difficult season," said an emotional Loeb, going on to describe the mid-season low points which saw him lose the lead of the championship until today. "We've done it but it was big, big pressure."

Referring to the strong challenge presented by Mikko Hirvonen this season, Loeb added that "It will be tough next year for sure," but the 2009 title fight "was one of the best, the battle was intense.

"We made a good start then we lost everything and we came here one point behind Mikko. Finally we've done it and I'm really happy," Loeb proudly said. "We have had some highs and some lows this year but we finished with the victory. It's an incredible feeling!"

Mikko Hirvonen took second place in Wales and appeared as the 2009 Vice-Champion. After congratulating his rival, the Finn was already thinking of picking up the 2010 drivers' championship fight: "I need to go back to work and find speed for next year."

Despite the disappointment of losing his title campaign, he recognised that the now-concluded WRC season was a great experience for him in many regards. "This is definitely the best ever year I ever had," he said, but Loeb "was still just a little bit faster.

"We're really close now to his speed and that feels good. It's been a great year, but of course a big disappointment at the end," the Ford driver added. "I'll try again next year," promised Hirvonen, having ended the championship one point behind 2009 champion Sebastien Loeb.

Dani Sordo took the final step of the Rally Great Britain podium a mere second behind Hirvonen, but the Citroen team driver was cheerful for having succeeded in securing the position ahead of the hard-charging Petter Solberg. "I'm really happy," the Spaniard said. "We had a good season – congratulations to Sebastien!"

The ever-enthusiastic Petter Solberg was nonetheless proud of his fourth overall position in Wales, a result which echoed his performance in Spain when he first took control of his new Citroen C4 WRC.

"It's been a long journey," the Norwegian said. After Subaru quit the sport a year ago, Solberg quickly mounted a privateer team and entered an old Citroen Xsara wherever possible before striking a deal with the French carmaker and taking a new C4 to the final two rounds. "The whole year has been fantastic – it has been tough but I'm happy!"

Having proven his worth, Solberg is hoping to be in a position to take on a full World Rally Championship season in 2010 and – who knows – fighting for the title once more.

When Sebastien Ogier crashed his Citroen Junior Team car on the penultimate stage, unable to avoid a large rock, Henning Solberg took over fifth place in Wales; Stobart Ford teammate Matthew Wilson came next in seventh. "It was a difficult rally, we had many issues with the car on Friday so I'm happy to be at the finish," Wilson said.

Following an off on today's second stage, Jari-Matti Latvala managed to finish Rally Great Britain in seventh position overall despite dealing with a wounded works Ford Focus; without a service halt on the programme, the broken rear right suspension could not be fully repaired. "I am responsible for today's error," Latvala admitted. "It's hard finishing in these conditions but I'm happy to have reached the finish."

The final point went to the Citroen Junior Team's Conrad Rautenbach, who benefited from teammate Ogier's mishap and moved up to eighth place.

The 2009 World Rally Championship title fight went down to the wire for Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen, and it was decided by a single point: 93 to 92.

Despite losing time yesterday, Hirvonen must surely be wondering how his determined charge today would have turned out had a bonnet pin not given way during the penultimate stage...