Jari-Matti Latvala has clinched victory in the Rally of France to draw closer to World Rally Championship leader Sebastien Ogier.

With two races to go until the end of the season, the Finn is now just 27 points behind the Frenchman, who is the reigning world champion.

Ogier had started his home rally with a 50 point lead over Latvala in the overall standings and in position to secure the world title.

But the Volkswagen driver lost four minutes with a gearbox problem on Friday and then was hit with a four-minute penalty for checking in at the third stage too early.

That left him with way too much to do on Sunday and he had to settle for a meagre return of just three points.

“I have never known such a succession of problems in such a short time,” bemoaned Ogier.

“All I could do was concentrate on the points in the Power Stage to limit the damage. I’ve used up one of my jokers in regards to the title and I’ve only got one left now.” added the Frenchman.

Latvala, driving a VW-Polo, took the 12th rally win of his career and the first on asphalt, ahead of Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Polo-R) and Britain’s Kris Meeke (Citron DS3) on Sunday.

It was the first time since 2004, when Estonia’s Markko Martin triumphed, that a French driver has failed to win the Rally of France. Sebastien Loeb won it six times and Ogier twice.

The two remaining races this year are in Spain and Wales.