The Frenchman finished 42.4 seconds ahead of Citroen team-mate Mikko Hirvonen to claim his second triumph in the first three races of the season.

Loeb had led by 36 seconds going into the final day and although he was pegged back slightly when Hirvonen won the dramatic 54.3km Stage 22 at Guanajuatito, he still held a comfortable cushion.

The reigning champion was more than five seconds clear on Stage 23 at Derramadero and made sure of victory with second place on the closing VW Power Stage.

Very happy

"I am very happy," he said afterwards. "I always win here. It is a great result for the team as well, with Mikko finishing second, a one-two for us."

Petter Solberg took victory on the final stage, giving the Norwegian three bonus points and pushing him up into third place.

Jari-Matti Latvala had been in contention for a podium finish only to endure a disastrous 22nd stage, firstly rolling his Ford Fiesta before he also suffered a puncture.

He limped home seven minutes slower than stage winner Hirvonen and was forced out of the race, from third position, before the start of the next stage.

Mads Ostberg and Ken Block also had puncture problems, while Chris Atkinson had to retire after breaking his Fiesta's front suspension.