Mexico: Ogier reports back 🎥
SUPREME WRC WIN After bad luck in Sweden, Sébastien Ogier put in a flawless performance at the Rally Mexico, which was rewarded with his second win of the season with Citroën. In mid-February, Sébastien Ogier slid into a wall of snow during the second round of the World Rally Championship in Sweden. Because there were no spectators to rescue him, the wintry WRC round [...]
In mid-February, Sébastien Ogier slid into a wall of snow during the second round of the World Rally Championship in Sweden. Because there were no spectators who could have freed him, the wintry WRC round was hereby over for him.
The Frenchman continued the rally the following day and scored WRC points in the Power Stage. However, Ott Tanäk's victory in a Toyota Yaris WRC snatched the championship lead from the Citroën driver, who had previously been successful in the Rally Monte Carlo. In third place behind Ogier's teammate Esapekka Lappi, Thierry Neuville on a Hyundai also passed the Frenchman in the championship.
Mexico is Citroën country
In completely different conditions on the gravel in the high-altitude air of Mexico, Ogier managed to take revenge this weekend. With four SS victories on the first leg, the Frenchman took the lead with the Citroën DS3 WRC, which he did not relinquish in the following stages.
For Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia it is the fifth success in Mexico after 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Volkswagen and last year with Ford, for Citroën Racing the sixth after Sébastien Loeb's five consecutive victories in 2006 to 2012.
Toyota remains at the top of the table
With the handicap of having to take to the track first for the first time in his career as WRC leader, Tänak initially lost some time. But in second place, 30 seconds behind Ogier, the Estonian maintained his lead in the WRC.
Third place went to the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team with Welshman Elfyn Evans on Fiesta WRC. German-speaking Belgian Thierry Neuville lost around a minute on the second and first long special stage due to a slow puncture caused by contact with a stone. Neuville limited the damage by finishing fourth, 87 seconds behind Ogier.
Three-way fight for the world championship title
The 2017 world championship seems to be turning into a three-way fight between Tänak, Ogier and Neuville after the first three WRC rounds in 2019. Standings after 3 rounds: 1st Tänak, 65 points, 2nd Ogier, 61, 3rd Neuville, 55.
