In the
FIA Production Car World Rally Championship category Gabriel Pozzo took the honours more than 2 minutes up on his nearest rival.
Gabriel's win means that Toshi Arai will have to wait and see if he has done enough to secure his second PWRC title as Pozzo now moves up to second in the standings, 17 points adrift. Unlike Arai though, the Argentine still has two of his nominated events to come and could conceivably take the title, if he does well in Ireland and GB.
Leszek Kuzaj and Takuma Kamada complete the podium, after Armindo Araujo was excluded from second.
Evgeniy Vertunov was next up in P4, with Mark Higgins fifth follwed by Patrik Flodin, Juho Hanninen and Yoshio Ikemachi.
Arai was unable to add to his tally this weekend after a number of punctures dented his challenge. He finished 10th in the class.
The WRC now returns to Europe for the penultimate round, which will take place in Ireland from November 15-18.
Rally Ireland is a new addition to the series and the fifth asphalt rally of the year. The sealed surface is unusually bumpy, quite unlike any other asphalt event, and is very demanding of cars, tyres and drivers alike.
![Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen celebrate their victory. Rally Japan 2007. [PIC CREDIT: FORD / www.worldrallypics.com]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/393410.jpg)
