The Ford Focus driver opened up a 28-second lead on five time-world champion Loeb who lost ground after suffering a punctured tyre.
Overnight leader Hirvonen, 29, started the day under the rain with just three seconds on his Citroen rival.
But the Finn proved more adept at negotiating the home terrain and his rival's attacks as Loeb lost 13 seconds at the end of SS15 on a steep climb up to a little ski resort.
"I was hoping that it would rain, that made the roads softer and improved grip so it wasn't as slippery as Friday," said Hirvonen.
"It's a fantastic feeling to drive at speed along the roads. I can go a litter faster but I prefer to keep a little back. I'm going to try to hold this rhythm for the remainer."
Loeb, winner here last year, suffered in the rain.
"Because of the rain, Mikko has the advantage," said the Frenchman, who trails the Finn by just one point in the overall standings.
"After him the road has a tendency to be a bit sticky and it must be even worse for those who are behind us as can be seen from the times."
Finland's Ford Focus driver Jari-Matti Latvala won SS16 to move up to third at 1min 10.2sec with Spaniard Dani Sordo dropping to fourth at 1:10.2.
Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who on Thursday was mulling the possibility of switching to rallying some time in the future, was 15th in a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto.
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