Loeb is chasing his fifth straight WRC drivers' title

The French four-time defending champion profited as Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala was hit by a turbo problem on stage 13 which cost him around 55 seconds.

Loeb, who won the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, is one minute 1.4 seconds clear of Australia's Chris Atkinson (Subaru), with Latvala in third.

Briton Matthew Wilson (Stobart Ford) is on course for a top-10 finish in sixth.

He had a lucky escape on stage 13 when a spectator threw a rock at his car and he was forced to drive with reduced visibility for the remaining legs.

Our fight for the lead might be over but we can finish on the podium Jari-Matti Latvala

Finn Latvala, who won his maiden world rally in Sweden last time out, led Loeb by 9.6 secs overnight.

But the turbo boost on his Ford Focus failed during Saturday's fifth stage and he quickly dropped off the pace.

Loeb said: "We were pushing hard until we had a good lead on Jari-Matti, but now we have a good lead over Atkinson, and it's a bit more comfortable.

"From now on we just have to finish - and finish first. There's still a long way to go, but if it ends like this it will be the perfect rally."

Atkinson, 28, is on course for the best result of his WRC career after third places at the Rally Japan in 2005 and this year's Monte Carlo event.

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"It's a bit of a surprise but that's the way rallying is," he said. "We've had our problems and now Jari unfortunately has had some.

"We're in second now, which is good, although not without its challenges, but the package is working okay and we're able to do decent stage times consistently.

"The gap ahead and behind us is a minute-plus now, so we'll just try and get through Sunday's stages with no mistakes."

Latvala is a further 1min 5secs behind Atkinson and has set his sights on securing a top-three finish.