Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (Citroen C4 WRC) paced himself through the final stages to claim his third consecutive Rally Mexico victory. This was Round 3 of the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.
This opening gravel event of the season proved a tough challenge and few escaped problems over the three days and 331.45km of competition in the mountains of central Mexico, near León. The high altitude speed tests, which climbed to more than 2700m, meant engines lost about 25 percent of their normal power in the thinner air while the rocky tracks proved a constant hazard for the unwary.
The four-time World Rally Champion finished 66.1sec ahead of Chris Atkinson (Subaru Impreza), who scored his best ever result, despite feeling unwell and only three hours' sleep.
Behind the BP Ford Focus RS of Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen, Henning Solberg (Ford) took fifth, the Munchi's driver losing fourth place after front right punctures on the final two tests.
Stobart driver Matthew Wilson (Ford) rounded off the top six while Munchi's Federico Villagra (Ford) equalled his career best result in seventh. Petter Solberg (Subaru) claimed the final manufacturers' point in 12th, despite a front right puncture on the penultimate stage and a spin on the final test.
Hirvonen retains the lead in the drivers' standings after this third round of the 15-rally series, the 27-year-old Finn ahead by one point over Sébastien Loeb. Latvala lies third, five points behind Hirvonen.
The championship remains in the Americas for round four when Villa Carlos Paz hosts the all-gravel Rally Argentina on 27 - 30 March.
Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 33min 29.9sec
2. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 3hr 34min 36.0sec
3. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 35min 09.6sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 37min 08.6sec
5. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 3hr 38min 27.8sec
6. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 3hr 39min 58.8sec
7. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 52min 32.9sec
8. R Trivino/C Salom MEX Peugeot 206 3hr 54min 47.2sec*
9. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C2 3hr 58min 54.8sec
10 J Mölder/F Miclotte EST Suzuki Swift 4hr 00min 26.7sec
*subject to the result of an appeal
Drivers
1. M Hirvonen 21pts
2. S Loeb 20pts
3. J-M Latvala 16pts
4. C Atkinson 14pts
5. G Galli 9pts
6. P Solberg 9pts
Manufacturers
1. Ford 37pts
2. Citroen 25pts
3. Subaru 25pts
4. Stobart VK M-Sport 19pts
5. Munchi's Ford 6pts
6. Suzuki 5pts
photo:Citroën Sport
This opening gravel event of the season proved a tough challenge and few escaped problems over the three days and 331.45km of competition in the mountains of central Mexico, near León. The high altitude speed tests, which climbed to more than 2700m, meant engines lost about 25 percent of their normal power in the thinner air while the rocky tracks proved a constant hazard for the unwary.
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The four-time World Rally Champion finished 66.1sec ahead of Chris Atkinson (Subaru Impreza), who scored his best ever result, despite feeling unwell and only three hours' sleep.
Behind the BP Ford Focus RS of Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen, Henning Solberg (Ford) took fifth, the Munchi's driver losing fourth place after front right punctures on the final two tests.
Stobart driver Matthew Wilson (Ford) rounded off the top six while Munchi's Federico Villagra (Ford) equalled his career best result in seventh. Petter Solberg (Subaru) claimed the final manufacturers' point in 12th, despite a front right puncture on the penultimate stage and a spin on the final test.
Hirvonen retains the lead in the drivers' standings after this third round of the 15-rally series, the 27-year-old Finn ahead by one point over Sébastien Loeb. Latvala lies third, five points behind Hirvonen.
The championship remains in the Americas for round four when Villa Carlos Paz hosts the all-gravel Rally Argentina on 27 - 30 March.
Final positions
1. S Loeb/D Elena FRA Citroen C4 3hr 33min 29.9sec
2. C Atkinson/S Prévot AUS Subaru Impreza 3hr 34min 36.0sec
3. J-M Latvala/M Anttila FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 35min 09.6sec
4. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 37min 08.6sec
5. H Solberg/C Menkerud NOR Ford Focus RS 3hr 38min 27.8sec
6. M Wilson/S Martin GBR Ford Focus RS 3hr 39min 58.8sec
7. F Villagra/J Perez Companc ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 52min 32.9sec
8. R Trivino/C Salom MEX Peugeot 206 3hr 54min 47.2sec*
9. S Ogier/J Ingrassia FRA Citroen C2 3hr 58min 54.8sec
10 J Mölder/F Miclotte EST Suzuki Swift 4hr 00min 26.7sec
*subject to the result of an appeal
Drivers
1. M Hirvonen 21pts
2. S Loeb 20pts
3. J-M Latvala 16pts
4. C Atkinson 14pts
5. G Galli 9pts
6. P Solberg 9pts
Manufacturers
1. Ford 37pts
2. Citroen 25pts
3. Subaru 25pts
4. Stobart VK M-Sport 19pts
5. Munchi's Ford 6pts
6. Suzuki 5pts
photo:Citroën Sport