From the overwhelming dominance of Citroen through the resurrection of Petter Solberg and learning difficult to Kimi Räikkönen. The important point of the Rally of Mexico.
The "scratch man" of the weekend:
Only three men have divided the cake in Mexico: Petter Solberg, Sebastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb. And all for the same manufacturer: Citroen. By putting pressure on Saturday, the champion of the world has swallowed the competition with seven-time scratch, which allowed him to settle comfortably leads the rankings place before Sunday. Sebastien Ogier, who won in Mexico in J-WRC in 2008, has deprived the Alsatian a Grand Slam in the second stage. With six stages won, the young French hope to Olivier Quesnel said he is a more than credible candidate for a spot in the official team next year. It is preceded by Petter Solberg (ES 7) who finished the race in Sunday tornado also enjoy racing instructions imposed Ogier, forced to provide. Note the dotted zero Ford completely miss its rendezvous Central American.
Petter Solberg : SS1, SS2, SS3, SS5, SS6, SS21, SS22
Sébastien Ogier : SS4, SS7, SS8, SS9, SS18, SS19
Sébastien Loeb : ES10, ES11, SS12, SS13, SS14, SS15, SS16, ES17
The number: 1
As the number tripled from a French label on a rally ground. Citroën is the first brand hexagonal to achieve this feat in Mexico.
They said:
Sébastien Loeb (Citroen, 1) "I had enough ahead on Sunday. I took a risk by opening the road. It's a great victory which puts us in the championship lead. Points lost to Sweden are already caught. This is important. This is only the beginning of the championship but I'm really happy. I had a very good feeling with the car. "
Petter Solberg (Citroen, 2e) "I am absolutely exhausted but happy. We had a difficult year. This result is exceptional. We analyzed the time that we could lose by opening the road and even though I knew that this tactic was dangerous, we have attempted. It is great to be back on the podium! "
Sebastien Ogier (Citroen, 3rd) "This is the first time the opportunity was given to us to fight to the finish. We managed to ride a pace throughout the race. It means that we move forward. This podium rewards the work of the team. This is a good start to the season, we could not expect better! "
Tops:
Petter Solberg : It was enough to see the arrival on Sunday, jumping like a kid in every sense, to measure its relief. Transparent Sweden, Petter Solberg has signed a magnificent Mexican round, his best result since Greece in 2008. And if he was the chief opponent of Loeb this season?
Citroen : The C4 flew the first gravel event of the season. Won 21 stages on 21! An exceptional record and unexpected. The fourfold have been expected if Dani Sordo had not broken his suspension Saturday.
Ken Block : Even if he broke his suspension Saturday, Ken Block has wonderful arrangements for his first WRC rally. The American held the 10e place before going to fault. All that driving a Ford Focus that he discovered.
Flops:
Kimi Räikkönen : The Finn dropped in the first stage at the end of SS7 after starting in tons. Difficult to grow under these conditions when the driver needs to accumulate a maximum of miles to exist in the discipline. A bright spot, however: the fifth of "Iceman" in the short super special (SS5) raced on asphalt. Small consolation nonetheless.
Ford : Non-existent. Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen especially, to execution Friday as he swept the track were only a shadow of themselves. During the whole weekend, the team of engineers at the oval have tried to change the settings to boost the cars. This did nothing. The engines of Focus desperately slow they have suffered from altitude? This is one track to use to explain this fiasco.
The exchange of places between Hirvonen and Latvala : Although one might expect, the slowdown of Jari-Matti Latvala on Sunday to let Mikko Hirvonen 4e for the drivers championship does not honor the discipline. And even if Ford had announced the color a few weeks ago pointing Hirvonen as team leader.
Overall Ranking:
1. Loeb (Fra, Citroen) 3h42'41''7
2. P. Solberg (Nor, Citroen) +24' '2
3. Ogier (Fra, Citroen) +25’’3
4. Hirvonen (Finland, Ford) +1'47' '5
5. Latvala (Fin, Ford) +2'15' '1
6. H. Solberg (Norway, Ford) +2'48' '0
7. Villagra (Arg Ford) +10'13' '4
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