CARDIFF (AFP) - Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, driving a Ford Focus, led the Rally of Great Britain after Friday's rain-hit opening day, ahead of Marcus Gronholm and three-time defending world champion Sebastien Loeb.

After the day's six special stages, or 140km of timed sections, Hirvonen led Finland's Gronholm by 39 seconds and Loeb by 57 seconds.

Hirvonen won five of the six special stages and showed the type of form that has already helped Ford win the constructors' world title this year before this final leg of the 16-race season.

The terrible weather conditions marked the day's racinig. Daniel Elena, Loeb's co-driver, said: "We have not seen such weather here in Wales since 2001. At one point there was so much water on the road I thought we were crossing a river. In Formula One racing, they would have cancelled the event.

"We drove at a good pace all day without taking any major risks. When we saw Hirvonen's times we realised we were not doing the same and he seemed to be the only one to take pleasure in these conditions."

Loeb needs to finish in the top five to win a fourth consecutive world title, regardless of what happens to Gronholm, and so his current third place would be enough at the finish on Sunday.

Two spectators were taken to hospital after suffering "minor injuries" when they were struck by a car driven by British amateur Simon Harraway in the first stage near Swansea, organisers reported.