Now there was only five events left, but with three on asphalt and only two on the loose, few were prepared to put money on the outcome.
Spain and France both went to Loeb, but with Marcus finishing third and second, he went to Japan still on top, albeit now by only 4 points.
Japan proved academic for both championship contenders, with Gronholm crashing out on day 1, while Seb also retired - going out on the second leg after his co-driver, Daniel Elena called out the wrong pace-note.
In the end Ireland proved to be the turning point and with Loeb taking the win and Gronholm crashing heavily on SS4, suddenly the Frenchman went from being 4 points down to 6 in front, with just one round to go.
Rally GB was won by Hirvonen, who took his third win of the season, while Seb paced himself to third behind Gronholm in P2, more than aware that he only had to finish in the top-five to be sure of taking his fourth crown - a feat only managed to date by two other people in the 30-year history of the WRC, namely Tommi Makinen and Juha Kankkunen.
Gronholm, who announced his retirement back in the September, was left to rue what could have been. His only consolation, he helped Ford - along with Mikko - clinch the manufacturers' championship for the second year running.
2007 was not all about Loeb versus Gronholm however and there were other drivers' who made their mark.
Mikko emerged to be 'best of the rest' after the two top, claiming three wins in total, with victories in Norway, Japan and GB - as already mentioned. His form was enough to convince M-Sport boss, Malcolm Wilson that he should be capable of leading the
BP Ford WRT in 2008.
Jari-Matti Latvala also shone during his first full-season in a WRC car, so much so that he has been promoted to the Ford 'A' team for the coming year. Jari showed impressive pace and while he did make some mistakes, he took his first podium finish in Ireland and finished the season on the Rally GB with ten fastest stage times from a possible 17.
![Ford celebrate after clinching the manufacturers' championship. Rally Ireland 2007 [PIC CREDIT: BP FORD WRT]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/398742.jpg)
