SUNNE, Sweden (AFP) - France's Sebastien Loeb was forced out of Friday's action in the Rally of Sweden after a spectacular roll during the fourth stage leaving Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala to dream of a maiden win.

Loeb, the four-times world champion and 2008 series leader after winning the opening event in Monte Carlo last month, will rejoin the race on Saturday where he will be hoping to at least score some constructor points for his Citreon team.

He will start Saturday's action 25 minutes behind Finnish driver Latvala.

At the time of the accident he was in provisional third place behind Latvala and the Finn's compatriot and Ford teammate Mikko Hirvonen.

"I touched a snow bank with the front of the car," said Loeb who is taking part in his 100th rally.

"The snow was wet and heavy and it threw us sideways and we went off the road. The car hit a rock and rolled over. The intercooler, brake and clutch pipes and sump-guard were all broken, but the most important thing was no clutch. In the end some spectators helped up get back on the road and get going again."

Loeb took full responsibility for the crash.

"If I stayed on the road I would be still driving - so it's my fault," he admitted.

Meanwhile, Latvala has a maiden win in his sights after opening up a 48sec lead over Hirvonen, the Ford team leader.

As well as putting in a composed drive, the 22-year-old also made the most of taking to the course after Loeb and Hirvonen who had cleared away most of the snow.

"It was an interesting day," said Latvala as Ford put five cars in the top seven, a situation helped by Australia's Chris Atkinson who lost over 15 minutes when his Subaru became embedded in snow.