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Trier - France's Sebastien Loeb, the defending and six-time world champion, on Sunday won the Rally of Germany for the eighth time.
Loeb finished 51.3 seconds ahead of Spain's Dani Sordo, with fellow Frenchman Sebastien Ogier in third, in a podium cleansweep for the Citroen C4 car.
The victory was Loeb's fifth this season and 59th in his rallying career, and nudges him closer to a seventh consecutive world title.
"It is a rally where we have always enjoyed success," said Loeb. "I was very comfortable with the car, everything worked well and so another one in Germany. It's brilliant.
In a rally Loeb led from beginning to end, Ford works team driver Jari-Matti Latvala finished fourth while Citroen privateer Petter Solberg completed the top five places.
Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena now have 191 points in the drivers' championship, 58 points clear of their closest rival, Ogier.
The next rally will be held in Japan on September 10-12 followed by Loeb's home rally in Alsace, France at the start of October.
"Another two victories would be great because the end of the championship is beginning to close in on us," said Loeb.
"But the key thing is to win the title before the end of the year. I am not too greedy but if I can win the Alsace rally as well, then that would be even better."
Rally Germany results:
1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 3 hours, 59 minutes, 38.3 seconds.
2. Daniel Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 51.3 seconds behind.
3. Sebastien Ogier, France, Citroen, 2:13.3.
4. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Ford, 2:33.9.
5. Petter Solberg, Norway, Citroen, 6:47.7.
6. Matthew Wilson, Britain, Ford, 8:46.7.
7. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Citroen, 8:50.5.
8. Khalid Al Qassimi, United Arab Emirates, Ford, 17:36.5.
9. Mark van Eldik, Netherlands, Subaru, 17:53.0.
10. Patrik Sandell, Sweden, Skoda, 17:58.8.
Drivers Standings (After 9 of 13 rallies):
1. Sebastien Loeb, France, 191 points.
2. Sebastien Ogier, France, 133.
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, 117.
4. Petter Solberg, Norway, 100.
5. Daniel Sordo, Spain, 95.
