Defending world champion Frenchman Sebastian Loeb of Team Citroen held a 41.8 second lead over his teammate Dani Sordo from Spain on Friday, the first day of the Cyprus Rally.

Loeb won five out of six special stages, a good start for the seasoned driver at the Cyprus Rally, the third round of the World Rally Championship.

The rally includes 14 special stages, covering 332.07 km in total. All the stages on Friday were on asphalt surfaces.

The drivers will then compete the following two days on traditional loose surface stages in southeastern Troodos mountains.

"It is a great start, for sure," said Loeb at a press conference later Friday.

"I could not expect such a lead and am very happy. We had to do everything we could to try and maintain the lead because tomorrow we will clean the road and we can lose some time," he added.

Finn Mikko Hirvonen, driving a Ford Focus, finished third at day one. But he told reporters he would do his best on the following stages.

"Obviously they (Citroen drivers) are going to go flat out as well and that is what I am planning to do," he said. "I would be happy to climb up for the win."

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2009)