Overnight leader Meeke cemented what was his first victory on an ERC event as a registered ERC driver by setting the pace on two of Sunday’s deciding four stages aboard the Michelin-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 he shared with co-driver Noel O’Sullivan. But all eyes were focused on runner-up Suninen.

Suninen completed the Welsh Tarmac event 38.6sec down on Meeke but it was enough for The Racing Factory driver to become the first Finn since Esapekka Lappi in 2014 to claim the coveted European championship crown. He achieved the feat alongside co-driver Antti Haapala in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 run on Pirelli tyres.

“Amazing,” said Suninen, who won the Power Stage to underline a highly successful weekend. “On the Wednesday I couldn’t believe we could be on this pace, I was quite sick but in the end we managed to do a good job and we learned a lot. Generally it’s been a good season for us and we’ve been doing a great job on Tarmac."

Suninen had led at the overnight halt on Friday but after spinning on Saturday’s opener, the 32-year-old backed off chasing Meeke, instead focusing on the bigger picture. There was another heart-in-the-mouth-moment on Sunday morning with another spin, but such was his speed through the stage prior to the scare, it would not cost him a position as Meeke triumphed.

“What a weekend, honestly,” said Meeke, a five-time FIA World Rally Championship winner. “Thanks to everyone who got me here, what an incredible job. It’s so enjoyable when the package is right.

“To feel like that and get that flow again with the Michelin tyres on the car. I feel at home again. I enjoy to drive, as everyone knows. When the package is right, I can drive.”

Ville Vatanen secured the FIA ERC3 Championship* as Timo Schulz claimed a win double in FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior to set up a final-round title decider on Rally Six Cities North of Portugal next month with ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team stablemate Tom Heindrichs, who crashed out on Sunday morning’s second stage.

Behind outgoing ERC champion Miko Marczyk, Max McRae claimed an ERC career-best fourth with Meirion Evans finishing as the top Welsh driver in fifth. Lancia-powered Andrea Mabellini, Suninen’s closest title rival, took sixth with Erik Cais in seventh, one place ahead of his Team MRF Tyres team-mate Simone Tempestini. ERC3 aces Vatanen and Coleman finished ninth and 10th overall respectively.

Jakub Matulka started Sunday’s deciding leg in a strong fourth but crashed on a left-hand bend 4.6 kilometres into the opening test. Matulka and co-driver Damian Syty signalled they were okay, but with their ORLEN LOTTO Rally Team entry blocking the road after they rolled, the stage was interrupted and then cancelled for the bulk of the crews, resulting in notional times.

Evans and Melvyn Evans Motorsport team-mate Osian Pryce were more successful on SS13. Evans was the fastest of the eight drivers to post a time, while Pryce – a two-time Rali Ceredigion winner – overtook McRae in the overall leaderboard.

However, Pryce’s capture of fourth was only temporary after he stopped 7.6 kilometres into SS14 with a gearbox issue.

Rally Six Cities North of Portugal, a gravel event based in the town of Fafe close to Porto, hosts the ERC season finale from 23-25 October.

Watch the action live on Rally.TV and follow all the news, stage times and results via the Live Centre.

*Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA