Finland's Mikko Hirvonen moved back to the top of the world standings with his first win of the season at the Rally of Jordan on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Ford Focus driver won two of the day's specials - SS17 and SS22 - to finish 1min 15sec ahead of the Citroen C4 of overnight leader Dani Sordo of Spain.

It is the fifth victory for Hirvonen after Australia in 2006, Norway, Japan and Britain in 2007.

Australia's Chris Atkinson finished third as the Subaru Impreza driver achieved his fourth podium in five races this season.

Four-time world champion Sebastien Loeb, who plummeted down from first to 20th after crashing on Saturday, fought his way back to 10th place after winning SS18, SS19 and SS21.

The French Citroen driver is second in the 2008 drivers' title race, five points behind Hirvonen, with Atkinson third on 28.

"We hung on in the end," Hirvonen said.

"It was so nerve-wracking in the last stage. I just tried to drive cleanly and not make any mistakes.

"It's very, very important for the championship. I lost important points in Argentina and now I've managed to make it up.

"Sebastien is still a big threat though. He was very fast here, so we need to find some more speed for the next events."

Loeb's hopes of victory were dashed when he was involved in a head-on collision with Zimbabwe's Conrad Rautenbach, like Loeb at the wheel of a Citroen C4, between stages on Saturday.

"It's a weekend to forget," said Loeb. "The only positive is that our car performed well but we didn't have a good showing.

"Now our thoughts are on Sardinia," he added, with the sixth leg in the 15-race world championship series taking place from 16 to 18 May.

"It was a bit of misfortune for others, but lucky for us," Atkinson said.

"Four podiums from five rallies is a very consistent start for us so with that I'm happy.

"We scored good points again and it's good for us and good for the team as it keeps us close to the guys at the front of the championship."

AFP