New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon won four of the final day's six stages of the Wales Rally GB but could not improve his overall standing.
Paddon and co-driver John Kennard finished seventh in the rally to lie second in the championship standings, eight points behind Super 2000 class leader Per-Gunnar Andersson.
It was an encouraging finish to the rally for Paddon whose hopes of victory were dashed after electrical and gearbox issues on the first day meant he completed only three of the rally's opening six stages.
"It's a case of what might have been," Paddon said.
The Geraldine 25-year-old is aiming for an incident-free run in the French Rally in three weeks' time as he seeks to overhaul Andersson.
"A win is a must, but in saying that, first and foremost, we also need to concentrate on having a trouble-free rally in France," he said.
Britain's Craig Breen won his home rally to lie joint second overall with Paddon with just the French and Spain rallies left.
NZN