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Lappi crash has Ogier in control at Rally Mexico 

By Timothy Neal

An Esapekka Lappi crash has Sebastien Ogier in control after day 3 of the WRC Guanajuato Rally Mexico, with the French rally legend chasing history.

An expected Ogier victory will give the Toyota part-timer a record seventh Rally Mexico win, with the eight-time world champion leading teammate Elfyn Evans by +35.8s.

Evans doesn’t enjoy the same breathing space, as Hyundai i20N pilot Thierry Neuville is just +4.3s behind Evans after 19 Stages in the Guanajuato mountains.

Lappi’s rally came undone whilst in the lead to start the morning; just 10.01km into the opening Ibarrilla stage, a big crash saw him make contact with a utility pole, with his #4 Hyundai Rally1 then catching fire.

“There was right with a cut, and it went straight into a left hander over a crest,” a dejected Lappi explained. 

“I was a bit caught out with this cut and I was delayed on the entry to the left. We went wide and hit the bank which spun us out immediately, and we hit the rear of the car.”

Ogier is attempting to win his seventh Rally Mexico title. Image: Red Bull Content Pool

Sitting in fifth place is Rovanpera, +19.9 behind Neuville and just under a minute from the lead. The Finn has a comfortable lead over Dani Sordo in P6, and with Ott Tanak stuck in P17 due to mechanical failings, will look to push hard in order to try and take the championship lead.

A win to Ogier, will put the part timer in second overall after his victory in the Monte Carlo opener.

Though tomorrow’s closing day is much shorter, it’s no less challenging, opening with another blast through Las Dunas and Otates, the longest stage of the rally at 35.63km. San Diego is up next before the event ends with the double point Wolf Power Stage in El Brinco.

Leading positions after Saturday:
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 2hr 35min 37.6sec
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +35.8sec
3. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +40.1sec
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +1min 34.0sec
5. D Sordo / C Carrera ESP Hyundai i20 N +2min 21.2sec
6: G Greensmith / J Andersson GBR Škoda Fabia +10min 33.4sec

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