Sebastien Ogier capped off his third FIA World Rally Championship-winning campaign with victory at Rally GB in Wales on Sunday ahead of home favorite Kris Meeke.
Ogier led from start to finish amid torrential rain on the gravel course, but the Frenchman considered withdrawing from the rally following the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night.
Ogier opted to continue, and was quick to dedicate his eighth win of the season to the victims of the attack, holding the French tricolore aloft upon completing the final stage.
“We’re happy to finish the season like that from a sporting view, but my mind wasn’t really there this weekend,” Ogier admitted.
“It was hard to carry on after the tragedy in France and our thoughts were with the people. We wanted this victory as our small sign for those who have been touched, and to show we must be even stronger against these things.”
Home favorite Kris Meeke put on a show for the local fans by charging to his third podium finish of the year, finishing 26 seconds behind Ogier in second.
The Citroen driver had gained on Ogier after the Frenchman was held up by a crash for Thierry Neuville earlier in the weekend, but was unable to bridge the gap on Sunday.
Andreas Mikkelsen capped off an impressive breakthrough season by finishing third ahead of Dani Sordo and Haydon Paddon, while Elfyn Evans ran well on home turf as he finished sixth in Wales.
Mads Ostberg, Stephane Lefebvre, Robert Kubica and Lorenzo Bartelli rounded out the top ten on Sunday, claiming the final points-paying positions.
With Rally GB done and dusted, the WRC now embarks on one of the shortest off-seasons in motorsport, with the first event of 2016 scheduled for January 22-24 in Monte Carlo.