Mexico: Ogier's first victory with Toyota 🎥
LEADER AT BREAKFAST Sébastien Ogier was leading in Mexico on Saturday evening when the third and, for the time being, last World Rally Championship round in 2020 came to an early end due to Covid-19. His first win with Toyota is well deserved. With two short stages in an autodrome and an even shorter night-time SS in the city of León and the subsequent podium ceremony, the rally went [...]
With two short stages in an autodrome and an even shorter night SS in the city of León, followed by the podium ceremony, the rally came to an early end on Saturday evening.
When many countries around the world tightened their measures against the spread of the Corona virus, the Rally Mexico, sponsored by the beer company Corona (!), was practically already underway. After two days of rallying, however, the organizers felt compelled to prematurely cancel the third WRC round of the year. The primary reason was the increasing travel restrictions so that all participants could fly back to their homes and companies in time.
First Neuville, then Tänak...
In the first two short show stages on Thursday evening, Thierry Neuville in the Hyundai i20 set the fastest times. On the first long gravel SS on Friday morning, his new teammate Ott Tänak took the lead. The Estonian had to relinquish this lead in the next SS after he lost around half a minute due to a damaged suspension on a rock.
... and finally Ogier
With his fastest time in the Toyota Yaris, Sébastien Ogier took over first place, which he did not relinquish thereafter. On Sunday, there would have been only three of 24 planned and 23 completed special stages to drive. Ogier's first triumph with Toyota and the sixth in Mexico are therefore well deserved.
This also puts the Frenchman at the top of the standings. After the cancellation of the next WRC round in Argentina, he will certainly retain this position until the fourth weekend in May, if the Rally Portugal, which is currently also on the back burner, is actually held.
Already Sweden not over full distance
With eight fastest times, Ott Tänak moved up to second place, just 27.8 seconds behind Ogier. The world champion from Latvia already took the place of honor in Sweden in mid-February.
There, on little ice and snow, Briton Elfyn Evans celebrated his first victory with Toyota and the second of his career. Already the only winter event had to be drastically shortened due to lack of ice and snow in Sweden. In Mexico, the Welshman finished in fourth place.
Third place on the podium went to Teemu Suninen from Finland in a Ford Fiesta WRC. This means that M Sport-Ford, as the third WRC team alongside Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai Motorsport, also has its first sense of achievement in the still young season.
Monte winner Thierry Neuville retired on the first stage with electrical problems and resumed the race the following day more than 40 minutes behind, taking penalties into account, to eventually score a few points for Hyundai in the team standings with P16.
In the three-minute action-packed video, Hyundai Motorsport looks back on the events in Mexico.
