World champion Sebastien Loeb saw off Marcus Gronholm's challenge to take control of the Tour de Corse today.
Loeb and title rival Gronholm were in a class of their own when the French round of the series got underway today, leaving the rest of the field over a minute behind.
Barring any problems, the pair of two-time champions are once again the only candidates for victory, with Citroen driver Loeb holding a crucial cushion heading into day two.
He won three stages to Gronholm's one, stretching out a 19.9-second lead over the Ford driver over the first four stages.
A minute further down the timing sheets, Alex Bengue is on course for a surprise podium for Skoda, although he is under pressure from the fourth-placed Ford of Mikko Hirvonen.
The Finn has moved into contention for a rare podium after a turn of speed this afternoon which saw him relegate Citroen's Dani Sordo to fifth.
Xavier Pons suffered this afternoon and slid out of third place, ending the day sixth in his Citroen. Nicolas Vouilloz was seventh while Manfred Stohl was eighth, also in a Peugeot.
Well down the field, former world champion Petter Solberg suffered a dreadful start to the rally.
He lost two minutes this morning with an accident which damaged his Subaru's exhaust system. He ended the day three minutes down in 14th.
Solberg said: "It was not really the best start for us. About five kilometres before the finish of the first stage we had a spin under-braking and hit the back of the car a little on a bank.
"It was very slow, I was in second gear, but the exhaust was damaged. We also had some difficulties with gear selections."
English rookie Matthew Wilson was also outside the top 10, in 17th in his Stobart Ford. Britain does have reason to cheer after the first day though, with Ulsterman Kris Meeke, driving a Citroen, establishing a 32.8secs lead in the junior championship.