Mexico: Victory and WRC lead for Ogier (Ford)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP With his 42nd triumph in a World Rally Championship round, Sébastien Ogier retook the top spot in the standings in Mexico in his Ford Fiesta. Sébastien Loeb's comeback with Citroën ended in 5th place for the nine-time world champion. After his sensational victory in Sweden, world championship leader Thierry Neuville had to be the first to take to the Mexican gravel tracks in his Hyundai i20 WRC, followed by [...]
After the sensational victory in Sweden, WRC leader Thierry Neuville in his Hyundai i20 WRC had to be the first to take to the Mexican gravel tracks, followed by Sébastien Ogier in the Ford Fiesta WRC. Accordingly, the two "road wipers" lost a lot of time on Friday's first stage.
On the second day, Ogier showed his great class in the Ford Fiesta WRC. Despite the unfavorable starting position, the world champion moved up from fifth to first place. Meanwhile, all of his direct rivals had more or less major problems with punctures, technical problems, spins or accidents.
Strong comeback from Sébastien Loeb
After three years, Sébastien Loeb returned to the World Rally Championship in a Citroën DS3 WRC. He had even last driven on gravel - apart from rallycross tracks - in May 2013.
As expected, the Swiss by choice took advantage of his good starting position and placed second on the first day behind the Spaniard Dani Sordo in the Hyundai i20.
On Saturday, the nine-time world champion even took the lead when he and also previous leader Sordo hit the same lump of rock and suffered punctures.
Loeb changed a tire with the help of co-driver Daniel Elena and lost around 2 minutes 30, while Sordo limped to the finish, losing just 30 seconds. As a result, the Alsatian dropped to 5th position and the Spaniard to 3rd behind Kris Meeke (Citroën).
Hyundai extends world championship lead
On Sunday's stage, Ogier risked nothing more and won with a commanding lead of more than a minute ahead of Sordo and Meeke. The world champion thus retook the top spot in the standings from Neuville, who finished a distant sixth.
Ogier made his debut in the World Rally Championship, at that time in the Junior category, in Mexico in 2008, where he has now won four times in the top WRC class since then. For his team boss Malcolm Wilson, the performance in Mexico was the best so far since Ogier switched to his Ford brand.
Hyundai slightly extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings with positions 2, 4 (Andreas Mikkelsen) and 6. After podium finishes in Monte Carlo and Sweden, Toyota had to settle for eighth place from Jari-Matti Latvala.
WRC standings after 3 rounds, drivers: 1. Ogier (Ford) 56 points; 2. Neuville 52; 3. Mikkelsen (both Hyundai) 35; 4. Meeke (Citroën) 32; 5. Latvala (Toyota) 31; etc. Brands: 1st Hyundai 84; 2nd M-Sport Ford 72; 3rd Citroën 71; 4th Toyota 67.
