OGIER WINS SHORTENED RALLY MEXICO

Sebastien Ogier wins shortened Rally Mexico – Photo: Red Bull

Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier has taken victory in a shortened Rally Mexico, one of the few international motorsport events to get underway this weekend.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

Given the evolving the international COVID-19 situation, the third round of the World Rally Championship ended at the conclusion of Saturdays scheduled running with 21 stages and more than 75% of the events distance complete in order to be classified for full championship points.

The WRC Promoter, manufacturer teams and the Rally Guanajuato Mexico organisers met and unanimously agreed to bring forward the finish to allow international officials, competitors, team personnel and media to return home ahead of impending travel restrictions due to virus.

“The decision to finish the event tonight has been taken unanimously by the Rally Mexico organisers, with the support of the governor, the WRC Promoter and the FIA.” said Yves Matton, FIA Rally Director.

“We are all very sad that the rally has to end prematurely but due to the rapidly evolving situation and the various travel restrictions being implemented in the different parts of the world, the priority was to ensure a safe return home for the teams and personnel.”

“We would like to thank the organisers and the Mexican International Motor Sport Federation (OMDAI) for their exceptional commitment to host a world-class event and the local health authority for their strenuous efforts and all the actions taken to protect locals and visitors.”

Thierry Neuville led the rally early – Photo: Red Bull

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville led the rally after the opening stages on historic streets of Guanajuato.

Once the rally hit the gravel mountain roads, Ogier dominated proceedings rocketing up from sixth at the end of SS2 the lead the rally at the end on SS4 and build up a 13-second margin by the end of Friday’s running.

Hyundai struck issues with both Neuville and Dani Sordo suffering engine issues. While Esapekka Lappi had the biggest drama of the event when his M-Sport Ford Fiesta burnt to the ground at the conclusion of SS7.

Ogier continued to extend his lead on the third day of the rally, to build up a 30-second gap before cruising to take the win ahead of Ott Tanak who recovered from an offroad excursion to finish second. M-Sport’s Teemu Suninen completed the podium.

We’ll have a full wrap up of all the WRC action in the next issue of Auto Action.

The next round of the WRC, Rally Argentina, had been scheduled for April 23-26 but has now been postponed.

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