Stobart Ford driver Mads Ostberg leads after the first day of the 2011 championship in Sweden.
Ostberg had led by over half a minute, but his lead is now less than half of that after suffering from a visibility issue.
"I'm very happy with that, but very early on this stage there was a big dip in the road, and the lightpods came off," said Ostberg.
"It's been a nightmare, no lights and the thing that's supposed to give you light is blocking your view. I tried pushing but I couldn't see a damn thing, so I should be happy to be here.
"I wouldn't have believed I would be leading at all, so I must say it's been a good day, but I must say I'm a little bit disapointed by this.
"I knew I had to have a big lead because tomorrow I will be first on the road. Now I've lost this time it will be difficult."
Sebastien Loeb - who has claimed the title in each of the past 7 seasons - has had a nightmare day.
In the new Citroen DS3, his running position of first on the road hindered him in the snow, plus a puncture cost him a minute
"It was getting better in the last stages. Then I had a puncture, I don't know why, in the middle of the road," said Loeb. "I didn't touch anything. We had to do 15 kilometres like that and we lost a lot of time again."
Kimi Raikkonen is 11th after an encouraging day, despite a spin and a puncture.
Pos Driver Car Time/Gap 1. Mads Ostberg Ford 1h17m21.2s 2. Mikko Hirvonen Ford + 14.8s 3. Petter Solberg Citroen + 57.4s 4. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford + 1m10.0s 5. Henning Solberg Ford + 1m20.3s 6. Sebastien Ogier Citroen + 1m21.6s 7. Patrik Sandell Skoda + 2m35.1s 8. Eyvind Brynildsen Skoda + 2m43.5s 9. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 2m48.4s 10. Khalid Al Qassimi Ford + 4m12.4s
