World champion Sebastien Loeb claimed his second victory of the season with a convincing win in the New Zealand rally yesterday.
Driving a Citroen, the Frenchman finished nearly 50 seconds clear of Finland's former twice world champion Marcus Gronholm in a Peugeot to climb to second place in the championship after four special stages near Auckland.
Petter Solberg of Norway finished third in his Subaru to retain his lead in the standings on 26 points, one clear of Loeb.
"Before the rally I was a little worried about the title situation, but now I'm a lot calmer, being one point behind," Loeb said.
"It's been tough but above all I'm pleased with the improvements the team has made to the car."
Loeb's Belgian team-mate Francois Duval narrowly missed a place on the podium when he took fourth place to collect his first points of the season and lift Citroen ahead of Subaru in the manufacturers' championship.
Peugeot extended their lead in the manufacturers' title when Gronholm's team-mate, Estonia's Markko Martin, finished fifth to retain third place in the driver's championship.
Finn Toni Gardemeister finished sixth in a Ford to tie for fourth with Gronholm in the drivers' title race.
The next round in the 16-race championship will be held in Italy on the last weekend of the month.