Sebastien Loeb claimed his first World Rally Championship victory for more than five years in the Rally of Spain.

The nine-time world champion, making his final guest appearance of the season with Citroen Racing, edged out current title holder Sebastien Ogier by just 2.9 seconds after the four-day, mixed surface event.

Ogier had the consolation of regaining the championship lead by three points from Thierry Neuville with one round remaining.

Neuville was relegated from third to fourth, and missed out on crucial bonus points, after hitting a stone near the finish.

Hyundai’s Neuville finished fourth and now trails Ogier by three points going into the final round of the season in Australia next month.

Loeb retired from full-time competition in 2012 and his last win came in Argentina in 2013.

“To win after almost six years is incredible, but to do so in a battle like this, where you only discover after the finish line that you have won, is amazing,” said Loeb in an interview on WRC’s website.

“I never believed I would win again.”