Mads Ostberg of Norway, in a Ford, held the advantage over world champion Sebastien Loeb after Friday’s opening six special stages of the Rally of Spain.
Ostberg, who clocked the fastest time in the second stage, led the season-closing rally by almost half a minute from Loeb, who claimed stages three and five in his Citroen.
Ostberg, winner in Portugal, is battling to finish third in the 2013 drivers’ standings.
Ostberg’s Ford teammate Jari-Matti Latvala won the first special to be placed third at 47sec.