DANIEL Barritt and Fumio Nutahara have scored a sensational third FIA Production Car World Rally Championship win of the season on the Cyprus Rally.

Barritt, from Hapton, and his Japanese driver had been at the forefront of the competition over three days' of driving on the Mediterranean island - just as they have been throughout the season - before clinching a four-minute win after the 22nd and final stage north of the rally's coastal base.

It was the pair's second PC WRC win this month, having clinched 10 points in Japan three weeks ago, and they are now among the favourites for this year's world title. A further two victories on the final two rallies of the season - Australia and New Zealand - would clinch a first ever world title for Nutahara, who is also leading the Japanese Rally Champion-ship after four straight wins in his home series.

Their only problem came 10 kilometres from the end of the first test of the day, when the Mitsubishi men finished with a broken windscreen.

"That wasn't a very nice way to start the day," said Barritt (right).

"But we didn't have to drive flat out, Fumio had to drive with his head and be sensible. We had two punctures during the event, but they were the only problem for us - the car has been good for the whole event. It's great to win again, now we have to see what we can do on the next two rallies."

This year's PWRC title can now only be won by three drivers. Nutahara has the biggest scoring opportunity, with 30 points and a further 20 possible. Nasser Al-Attiyah has scored 38, but can only add 10 more to his score. San Marino-based Mitsubishi man Mirco Baldacci is the other man in with a shot at the title. Te former Junior WRC regular has 19 points, but two wins would allow him to end the season on a potentially championship-winning 39.

At the front of the field in Cyprus, Sebastien Loeb clinched his eighth win of the season to move him closer to a third successive drivers' world title.

The Citroen man now only requires six points from the final four rounds to be crowned champion. Ford men Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen were second and third respectively.

The next round of the PWRC takes place on Rally Australia on October 26 to 29.