Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) takes another win at Rally Mexico ahead of his team mate Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta) was forced to retire.
After he took the lead during the first day, Loeb pulled away in front all along the week-end, and concluded the event more than 40 seconds ahead of his team mate Mikko Hirvonen. After he lost the lead on Friday following a suspension broken, Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) lost 50 seconds on Saturday when he hit a rock. On Sunday, the Finn rolled out in ESS 22 while trying to avoid Evgeny Novikov’s Ford Fiesta, who went off few minutes before.
Latvala could continue, but the officials forced him to stop for safety reasons, as the rollcage of his Ford Fiesta was damaged. That allowed his team mate Petter Solberg to move up to third place. The Norwegian driver was the first leader of the event but quickly dropped down in order after suffering two punctures in ESS 2 and 3.
It was the sixth consecutive win for Loeb in Mexico, his second of the season. Sebastien Ogier won the S2000 classification aboard his Skoda Fabia.
Rally Mexico – Final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 4h15'32”7
2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) a 42”4
3. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 2'11"4
4. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 4'51”5
5. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 5'09”0
6. Al-Attiyah-Bernacchini (Citroen DS3 Wrc) a 6'41”8
7. Araujo-Ramalho (Mini Cooper Wrc) a 12'46”9
8. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia S2000) a 14'57”8
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 66 points, 2. Hirvonen 50, 3. P. Solberg 47, 4. Ostberg 28, 5. Latvala 26, etc.
After he took the lead during the first day, Loeb pulled away in front all along the week-end, and concluded the event more than 40 seconds ahead of his team mate Mikko Hirvonen. After he lost the lead on Friday following a suspension broken, Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) lost 50 seconds on Saturday when he hit a rock. On Sunday, the Finn rolled out in ESS 22 while trying to avoid Evgeny Novikov’s Ford Fiesta, who went off few minutes before.
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| First 1-2 finish of the season for Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. (Photo: Citroen WRC) |
Latvala could continue, but the officials forced him to stop for safety reasons, as the rollcage of his Ford Fiesta was damaged. That allowed his team mate Petter Solberg to move up to third place. The Norwegian driver was the first leader of the event but quickly dropped down in order after suffering two punctures in ESS 2 and 3.
It was the sixth consecutive win for Loeb in Mexico, his second of the season. Sebastien Ogier won the S2000 classification aboard his Skoda Fabia.
Rally Mexico – Final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 4h15'32”7
2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) a 42”4
3. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 2'11"4
4. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 4'51”5
5. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) a 5'09”0
6. Al-Attiyah-Bernacchini (Citroen DS3 Wrc) a 6'41”8
7. Araujo-Ramalho (Mini Cooper Wrc) a 12'46”9
8. Ogier-Ingrassia (Skoda Fabia S2000) a 14'57”8
Etc.
Championship:
1. Loeb 66 points, 2. Hirvonen 50, 3. P. Solberg 47, 4. Ostberg 28, 5. Latvala 26, etc.