BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team boss Malcolm Wilson meanwhile responded by adding that what they did was perfectly legal and within the rules.

"We don't make the regulations. We only operated to the way the regulations are," explained the M-Sport man. "I am going to be honest and say we were not in favour of changing the system from what it was last year. But in all honesty we are looking at ways to raise the profile of this championship and I know from the comments I have heard that this is a very interesting story.

"I can understand how Olivier feels - and I know he hasn't admitted, but Dani [Sordo] did something similar on one of the other rallies.

"Also it's okay for people to say you have to do tactics, but we had to be brave - that was a big lead to throw away."

Indeed on Friday, Hirvonen conceded it was a gamble: "It's a risk to do this because we haven't won anything yet and there are only two stages for Loeb to clean tomorrow [Saturday], but these are better circumstances for me than being first on the road," continued the eventual victor.

"If I had been leading tomorrow [Saturday], I don't think I would have been able to keep him behind me because my 14sec advantage wouldn't have been enough. The plan now is to attack hard and build a big enough lead to take into the final day. I'm sure Loeb will fight hard, but I feel confident."

Hirvonen eventually beat Latvala by 7.9 seconds, while Loeb was another 18.7 seconds adrift at the finish in Kemer on Sunday afternoon.