Frenchman Loeb retained the overnight lead to take victory by 13.8 seconds from Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo, to cut championship leader Marcus Gronholm's advantage to six points.

Gronholm, who held a 10-point lead going into the rally, was third yesterday.

Gallagher said: "This is a dream come true. To compete in the World Rally Championship has always been my goal and to take the rookie-of-the-year title just puts such a fabulous gloss to the season for me. And to have a chance to compete in the World Rally Championships in my own country, in my own county, when Rally Ireland comes to the North-west in November will just make this such a special year."

Among the first to congratulate Gallagher was Irish Formula One supremo Eddie Jordan, chairman of Rally Ireland Management, who said: "It's a great achievement for Shaun and the team to have done so well in this, their first year in the World Rally Championship and I wish them well for the future."

Gallagher, in his Citroen C2R2, stretched his lead to 18 points at Rallye Declined in August, which left him needing to secure just three points in Catalunya.