Reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb of France won the Rally of Cyprus on Sunday, his 50th career race win in the world championships and third in three races this season.

Loeb, driving a Citroen C4, finished 27.2 seconds clear of Finland's Mikko Hirvonen in a Ford Focus with Petter Solberg of Norway third in a Citroen Xsara 1:49.4 off the pace.

The five-time world champion started the final special stage on the rally just 26 seconds in front of Hirvonen who had produced the top times in the first two specials of the day clawing back six seconds and then a further 17 seconds on the Frenchman's lead.

But that was as close as he got as Loeb used all his experience on the final 11 kilometre-long gravel stage to hold on to first place making it three wins out of three rallies this year — Ireland, Norway and Cyprus.

It also meant a all-time best 50th career win for Loeb with his long-time co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco starting with their win in the rally of Germany in 2002.

"It?s incredible!" said Loeb. "I remember when I beat the records of Carlos [Sainz] and then Colin [McRae] it wasn?t so long ago, and now we?re on 50.

"It?s a big number. And a nice number! It?s like a dream. I?m very happy with what I?ve achieved but I?m not finished yet. Next I?m going for 51."

Hirvonen said that the race effectively had been lost on Friday when Loeb jumped out in a big 41.8 seconds lead.

"We managed to take some time back today. If it was drier the result might have been different, but that?s how it is. We were faster today though, hopefully we can take that speed to Portugal."

Loeb leads the World Rally Championship drivers standings with the maximum 30 points from three races.