RALLY legend Sébastien Ogier may have won 44 times in his stellar FIA World Rally Championship career, but few of his victories have been more hard-fought than the one he achieved at the 2018 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB last weekend.

The Ford star overcame a thrilling final day challenge to become the first driver in history to triumph five times on the legendary event, in mid and North Wales.

Going into Sunday’s demanding speed tests through the scenic splendour of Snowdonia National Park and around Llandudno’s iconic Great Orme, the stage was set for an exhilarating battle for glory, with the top four crews separated by just 13.5 seconds - in uncharted territory.

Defending World Champion Ogier and Toyota rival Jari-Matti Latvala immediately engaged in an absorbing duel, treating the thousands of fans that had flocked to the forests to a spellbinding scrap.

Latvala stormed through the points-paying Power Stage to depose overnight leader Ogier from the top of the timing screens, but the Frenchman hit back with a scintillating run through the groundbreaking first Great Orme Llandudno Street Stage to slash the gap between the pair to a scant two tenths-of-a-second.

This was the first time in Britain that closed public roads in a town had ever staged World Championship motor sport, and the sight of the 380bhp, four-wheel-drive, turbocharged World Rally Cars dashing around the dramatic north Wales headland and onto the resort’s seaside streets was truly one to behold.

Ogier’s commitment was mind-blowing, and the Frenchman subsequently produced another virtuoso performance on the second blast through the showpiece stage to cement a memorable victory - and a record-breaking fifth on the event.

“It’s a great honour to win in Wales for the fifth time,” reflected the five-time World Champion. “Everybody knows how tough this event is and how it’s one of the most iconic rallies in the World Championship. I’m very proud to be on top of that list ahead of such big names.

“It was certainly an intense weekend. We lost a lot of time due to gearbox issues on Friday, but we never gave up and kept on pushing. Jari-Matti gave me a hard time right to the end. We knew we had to be at our best to beat him, and I think we managed that. It was an amazing battle.”

Latvala’s team-mate and countryman Esapekka Lappi rounded out the rostrum in third, with the podium ceremony taking place right in front of excited spectators on Llandudno’s seafront promenade following a final sprint through the town.

Ireland’s Craig Breen achieved his best result to-date in Wales in fourth, with title contender Ott Tänak - who held a commanding advantage of more than 40 seconds until radiator damage on Saturday stopped his charge - salvaging four potentially crucial points with a strong run through Sunday morning’s Power Stage, held in the heart of Gwydir Forest.

Although there was disappointment for last year’s winner Elfyn Evans, there were crowd-pleasing performances from other British drivers. Gus Greensmith finished an excellent third in the WRC2 support category, with 19-year-old Tom Williams, the godson of the late, great Richard Burns, winning the WRC3 class.

Llandudno-based Matt Edwards, who was fresh off the back of being crowned Prestone MSA British Rally Champion on Friday - celebrated his title success in style by winning the final round of the 2018 BRC campaign following retirement for long-time leader David Bogie.

The final stage was delayed and slightly shortened after an accident involving two members of a motor bike display team between the two runnings of the stage. The thoughts of all connected with the rally were with the injured and their families.