The Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), leader of the World Championship, and the French Sébastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta), second and current champion, will meet from Thursday until Sunday in the dirt, heat and altitude of the Rally Mexico , third date on the calendar, which will be held on the roads of the state of Guanajuato, central Mexico.
Ogier and Neuville arrive with a win each in the first two races. The French opened the World Cup with a victory in Monte Carlo, where Neuville was fifth, while the Belgian prevailed in the snow in Sweden where Ogier finished tenth.
“Mexico is the first event of the year with high temperatures and altitude, which makes it a unique challenge,” Neuville said in a statement distributed by his team.
Neuville accumulates three third places in Mexico in 2013, 2014 and 2017, an indication that he may do well this week, but Ogier’s records are better, as he was champion in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
In this rally, the first on land, the cars compete at temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius and at an average altitude of 2,072 meters registered in the state of Guanajuato.
Meanwhile, the Finnish Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), who was champion in Mexico in 2016, arrives as third in classification.
The Mexican race will see the return of Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (Citroën), nine times world champion, who returns after an absence of more than three years.
“The aim is to have fun, to drive how I feel like it and I am curious to know where I will be,” Loeb told the WRC site.
“For Mexico it is difficult to know (…) I have not run for too long,” reinforced Loeb, who owned the Mexican race from 2006 to 2012.
The British Kris Meeke (Citroen) defends the rally title, who was fourth in Monte Carlo and retired in Sweden.
For his part, the Spanish Dani Sordo (Hyundai), who retired in Monte Carlo and did not race in Sweden, returns to the wheel in Mexico.
“I have always enjoyed the Mexican specials. Cleaning the roads in Mexico can create a big difference between the first in the starting order and those in the back, ”he told his team.
The race will begin this Thursday with the dispute of a 2.53 kilometer street super special through the mining tunnels of the city of Guanajuato.
In total, 22 sections will be run with 1,021.12 kilometers, of which 345.60 will be speed and 675.52 drag. EFE
Neuville and Ogier meet on the land, heat and altitude of Mexico
