Spaniard Sordo was one of just two drivers to have run a recce at the new Jordan event, and he capitalised on his experience by winning today’s opening three stages.

But Loeb hit back with wins on stages four, six and seven to leave himself in a solid position heading into day two.

He said: “This morning, I was in a bit of trouble, but now the feeling is much better. I tried to push hard, but it was bumpy so I didn’t want to make a mistake.

“I’m not completely satisfied, but the car is going well and the rally is still long.”

The BP Ford cars lead the chasing pack behind the dominant Citroen pairing, with third-placed Jari-Matti Latvala five seconds ahead of team-mate and fellow Finn Mikko Hirvonen.

Latvala, who claimed his maiden World Rally Championship win at this season’s second round in Sweden, was seven seconds behind Sordo at the end of day one.

Latvala said: “It was going well until the last stage, but it seems like my rear tyres are completely finished now.

“The other tyres are not having the same problem, so it may be something with my driving that we have to work out.”

Subaru’s Petter Solberg – the other driver to recce the event last year – was going well in the early stages, mixing it with the Fords and the Citroens before hitting a rock on stage five that led to his retirement.

The Norwegian’s team-mate Chris Atkinson was fifth as he attempted to consolidate his third place in the drivers’ standings behind Hirvonen and series leader Loeb.

Privateer Citroen driver Urmo Aava was sixth, ahead of Britain’s Matthew Wilson. Wilson’s Stobart Ford team-mate Henning Solberg was eighth ahead of Conrad Rautenbach (PH Sport-Citroen) while Federico Villagra (Munchi’s Ford) completed the top 10.

Scotland’s Barry Clark, a last-minute replacement for Luis Perez Companc at Munchi’s Ford, was 16th, over 10 minutes off the leaders.