French driver Sebastien Ogier capitalised on a power steering failure for championship joint-leader Mikko Hirvonen to take the lead into the weekend's final stages of the shortened Rally of Jordan.
Ogier built a 31.6 second advantage over seven-times world champion and compatriot Sebastien Loeb while Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala trailed narrowly in third with compatriot Hirvonen in fifth, two and a half minutes off the pace.
Citroen's Ogier, who sits fourth in the overall standings 17 points behind team-mate Loeb and Hirvonen (58 points), was pleased with his day's work although wary of holding the lead for Sunday's final stages, which is considered a disadvantage as slippery gravel makes life difficult for those first out.
The ice cool Loeb played his cards just right though the Frenchman says his team mate Ogier was still in good shape heading into the final day.
