Defending World Champion Sebastien Loeb made the perfect start to Rally Argentina, setting the fastest time through Thursday night's Super Special to move into a slender overnight rally lead.

The Citroen C4 WRC driver, who has won the rally for the last four years, completed the 2.4km test exactly one second quicker than his nearest rival, Ford's Mikko Hirvonen.

Tens of thousands of rally fans filled the terraces of the Estadio Cordoba to watch the action, creating an electric atmosphere around the short opening stage - a taster before Friday's first full day of competition in the countryside around Cordoba.

"It was very slippery in there - and very easy to make a mistake," Loeb said at the stage end. "I'm happy to have got around with no problem. The fact that we've got the best time makes it perfect."

Hirvonen said he had eased off the pace near the stage end. "I slid a little wide on the final bend - the surface was very slippery and I concentrated on making sure I didn't hit any of the concrete barriers," he said. "It's a great stage for the people to come and watch, but the real stuff starts tomorrow!"

Loeb's Citroen Total team-mate Dani Sordo set the third fastest time, with Petter Solberg fourth after a successful head-to-head battle with his brother Henning.

The event's opening section re-starts on Friday morning, with the first ‘proper' stage, La Cumbre - Agua de Oro, getting underway at 0745hrs.