French driver Sebastien Ogier secured his first world title on the opening day of the Rally of France on Thursday when his only rival – Thierry Neuville – failed to snatch the stage win he needed in Alsace.
Ogier, 29, and co-driver Julien Ingrassia started the race with an 83-point championship lead over second-place Neuville and can no longer be caught by the Belgian.
The Volkswagen driver takes over the world crown from fellow Frenchman and record nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb.
The Rally of France is the third-to-last race of the season, with only the events in Spain and Britain remaining.