BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen have been named as winners of Rally Australia following a post-event hearing that imposed a one minute penalty on the Citroen C4 cars that filled three of the top four places.

The stewards of this 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship received a post-event scrutineering report from the FIA Technical Delegate which stated that the front anti-roll bar link on the car of Sébastien Loeb did not comply with the homologation form of the car.

Citroen agreed that the part was different from the homologation photograph, and confirmed that the cars of Dani Sordo and Sébastien Ogier were also fitted with identical parts.

The stewards imposed a one minute penalty on all three cars, promoting the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car of Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen from second to first, and that of team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala from fifth to fourth.

It means that Hirvonen will start the penultimate round of the series in Spain next month with a five point lead in the drivers' standings over Loeb, while second-placed Ford has reduced the gap in the manufacturers' standings to 13 points.

"It's a shame that after such a thrilling battle for three days the result of the rally is decided in the stewards' room," said 29-year-old Hirvonen.  "I suffered a points loss in Portugal two years ago, so I know how Sébastien, in particular, must feel tonight.  This decision has a major effect on the championship standings and we now go to Spain with a five point lead."  

Revised final positions
1.  M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen               FIN                Ford Focus RS       2hr 53min 06.5sec
2.  S Loeb/D Elena                        FRA              Citroen C4              2hr 53min 54.0sec
3.  D Sordo/M Marti                       ESP              Citroen C4              2hr 54min 11.1sec
4.  J-M Latvala/M Anttila                 FIN               Ford Focus RS        2hr 54min 58.5sec
5.  S Ogier/J Ingrassia                    FRA             Citroen C4               2hr 55min 29.8sec
6.  M Wilson/S Martin                    GBR             Ford Focus RS        2hr 58min 32.8sec
7.  H Solberg/C Menkerud              NOR             Ford Focus RS         3hr 00min 24.3sec
8.  F Villagra/J Perez Companc       ARG             Ford Focus RS        3hr 00min 45.9sec
9.  H Paddon/J Kennard                  NZL             Mitsubishi Lancer      3hr 08min 42.6sec
10 M Prokop/J Tomanek                 CZE             Mitsubishi Lancer      3hr 08min 51.2sec

Drivers                                                
1.  M Hirvonen                   78pts                
2.  S Loeb                         73pts                
3.  D Sordo                        50pts                
4.  J-M Latvala                   36pts                
5.  H Solberg                     29pts                
6.  P Solberg                     25pts

Manufacturers  
1.  Citroen Total                      133pts
2.  BP Ford Abu Dhabi            120pts
3.  Stobart VK M-Sport Ford     69pts
4.  Citroen Junior                     37pts
5.  Munchi's Ford                    21pts