Sebastien Loeb during a break in the action on Saturday

Loeb exploited championship leader Marcus Gronholm's exit on Friday to move 59.3 seconds ahead of Dani Sordo.

Citroen driver Loeb, four points behind in the championship, won four of Saturday's six stages to take a commanding lead over his team-mate.

Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala is two minutes and eight seconds behind Loeb.

It would appear only an uncharacteristic error or mechanical failure will prevent Loeb from entering the season-ending Rally of Great Britain with a six-point lead in the standings.

"Absolutely no problems, a perfect day," said Loeb after Saturday's action.

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"We are in the lead, with a good lead. The car is going perfectly and we really had no mistakes and no risks."

Britain's Guy Wilks is on course for a creditable sixth-place finish in his independent Subaru, standing more than three and a half minutes ahead of compatriot Matthew Wilson in seventh.

Ireland's Gareth McHale is also on target to finish in the points as he will go into Sunday's action in eighth - three places ahead of Fermanagh driver Niall McShea.

Finland's Mikko Hirvonen is 28 seconds behind third place Latvala while Petter Solberg lies fifth.

Tim McNulty, ninth overnight, and other Irishman Andrew Nesbitt were among the retirement during Saturday's stages.

Rally Ireland positions after Saturday's stages
1st Sebastien Loeb (France, Citroen C4) 2:30:35.20
2nd Dani Sordo (Spain, Citroen C4) 2:31:34.5
3rd Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland, Ford Focus) 2:32:44.0
4th Mikko Hirvonen (Finland, Ford Focus) 2:33:12.8
5th Petter Solberg (Norway, Subaru Impeza) 2:33:28.4
6th Guy Wilks (Britain, Mitsubishi) 2:36:27.2
7th Matthew Wilson (Britain, Ford) 2:39:58.5
8th Gareth McHale (Ireland, Ford) 2:40:42.9
9th Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, Ford) 2:43:36.5
10th Armindo Araujo (Portugal, Mitsubishi) 2:45:04.9