Loeb, aiming for his seventh successive Catalunya title, led off in his Citroen and was helped by the gravel dust hanging in the still air that hampered visibility for the other drivers.

Citroen teammate Sebastien Ogier was third, 11.9 seconds adrift of the lead, while Latvala's Ford teammate Mikko Hirvonen of Finland was 36.5 seconds behind Ogier in fourth.

Loeb, who is also trying to win his eighth straight world title, was level on points with Hirvonen in the championship standings going into the penultimate rally of the season, with Ogier three points further back.