The Australian pipped Swiss driver Jerome Voutaz by just two tenths of a second with his four-in-hand team as Dutchman Ijsbrand Chardon came home third.

All of the top three managed clear rounds in an exciting drive-off, but as Exell entered the event as a wildcard the maximum ten points available went to Voutaz.

Exell and Chardon are now tied at the top of the World Cup ranking list with 27 points. 

Koos des Ronde of The Netherlands follows with 25 points.

"Leipzig is definitely one of my favourite shows," said Exell, who has now won three times in the city.

"Even if the result was closer than I wanted it to be."

Course designer Wolfgang Asendorf was especially pleased with how the seventh leg of the season played out.

"I liked the combination of technical and tempo in the course and what the drivers made out of it," he said. 

"I was absolutely thrilled by the atmosphere during the drive off. 

"It was like being at a pop concert."