Darkness greeted competitors for an early start on Sunday morning, where Henriksson took 23 seconds out of Baranauskas over 29 kilometres in the treacherously slippery SS14 Brechfa 1, while Baranauskas seized eleven seconds back from the leader over the same distance on the rough and rutted SS15 Trawscoed 1. Caposiena slipped wide on SS14 and was unable to recover the car back onto the stage. For the final loop of two stages, a repeat of the morning's route, Baranauskas excelled in the conditions but Henriksson found the road conditions extremely tricky with a healthy lead to protect.

“My plan was to drive at 75% and not to push too hard, as I knew that conditions would be tough and that it was better to push a little on the fast straights, but to be cautious, avoid stones and stay in the middle of the road as much as possible,” he said. “It is tempting to go flat out, but sometimes you just have to be a bit more sensible and think carefully about your approach. There was a point when I thought I'd knocked a wheel off and, despite three punctures and the loss of my brakes, I'm really happy with the result on my first WRC.

“My experience of working with the BP-Ford World Rally Team this year gave me a good idea of what to expect from competing in the WRC, so there were no shocks to the system, I suppose like many newcomers might experience. To have finished this amazing year with a victory on my WRC debut is the perfect end to a season that money just couldn't buy.”

Taking the final podium position for FSTi was Everard, who has particpated in the FST UK championship this year. Competing in his first WRC event this was a fitting end to the season for this young charger who drove a strong rally demonstrating maturity and enthusiasm under treacherous conditions.

"The afternoon loop on the final Leg was horrendously rough the second time through and we nearly lost it on Stage 16,” he said. “We came down to a fast left and had a massive moment resulting in a real big tank slapper – it got the blood pumping! The little Fiesta took a real hammering on the big ruts, but it's an absolutely incredible car; it's genuinely very strong. I've never come across road conditions as bad as that; it was hard work, but we really enjoyed it.”

The season will come to a close on 3 and 4 December with the FST International Shootout, where Henriksson will hand over the mantle to his Shootout successor.