Sébastien Loeb has won round 3 of the World Rally Championship, Rally Mexico.
The Frenchman never turned a wheel wrong over the 400+ kilometres over the three days of running in the Mexican high-altitude. From the frenetic street stages, to the rock strewn gravel sectors, Loeb was in control on this his 69th career WRC victory. “I really enjoy this rally”, said a jubilant Loeb. The victory is the sixth consecutive for the Frenchman in Mexico. “I guess this rally likes me because I always win here. I am also very happy for Mikko and it is great for the team.”
In the Power Stage it was Petter Solberg taking the three bonus points for best time ahead of Loeb and Mads Ostberg. Loeb now has a 16 point lead in the championship from Hirvonen.
Jari-Matti Latvala had a rollercoaster weekend with plenty of brilliant fast times, but punctures and broken front suspension dropped him back from the two Citroens. On the mega 54.3km Guanajuatito stage he rolled up his Fiesta, destroying the front end of the Ford. “I saw Novikov’s crash from far off then I just lost concentration and rolled”, said a gutted Latvala. Then the FIA ruled that Latvala could not continue on and he leaves Mexico with no points !
Mikko Hirvonen’s runner-up finish is a fine result, taking into account Rally Mexico was just his third event in the DS3 and who happens to be his Citroen team-mate.
Petter Solber salvages a podium spot for Ford after what was a trying weekend of repeated punctures for the Norwegian after he had gone quickest in qualifying and SS1. Mads Ostberg kept his driving neat and tidy to take fifth, ahead of Ott Tanak. Nasser Al-Attiyah excited the spectators with his enthusiastic driving style and demeanour. Armindo Araujo, Sébastien Ogier in the VW run Skoda Fabia S2000, American showman Ken Block and local driver Ricardo Trevino complete the points scoring order.
RESULTS (TOP 10)
1 Sébastien Loeb Citroen DS3 WRC
2 Mikko Hirvonen Citroen DS3 WRC +42.4s
3 Petter Solberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC+2:11.4s
4 Mads Ostberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC +4:51.5s
5 Ott Tänak Ford Fiesta RS WRC +5:02.6s
6 Nasser Al-Attiyah Citroen DS3 WRC + 6:41.4s
7 Armindo Araujo Mini JCW WRC +12:46.9s
8 Sébastien Ogier Skoda Fabia S2000 +14:57.8s
9 Ken Block Ford Fiesta RS WRC +22:26.8s
10 Ricardo Trivino Ford Fiesta RS WRC +23:30.7s
Final Results: http://www.wrc.com/results/2012/rally-guanajuato-mexico/final-results/
DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP
MotorsTV NEWS:
http://www.motorstv.com/car/rally/wrc/11032012/loeb-wins-rally-mexico
The Frenchman never turned a wheel wrong over the 400+ kilometres over the three days of running in the Mexican high-altitude. From the frenetic street stages, to the rock strewn gravel sectors, Loeb was in control on this his 69th career WRC victory. “I really enjoy this rally”, said a jubilant Loeb. The victory is the sixth consecutive for the Frenchman in Mexico. “I guess this rally likes me because I always win here. I am also very happy for Mikko and it is great for the team.”
In the Power Stage it was Petter Solberg taking the three bonus points for best time ahead of Loeb and Mads Ostberg. Loeb now has a 16 point lead in the championship from Hirvonen.
Jari-Matti Latvala had a rollercoaster weekend with plenty of brilliant fast times, but punctures and broken front suspension dropped him back from the two Citroens. On the mega 54.3km Guanajuatito stage he rolled up his Fiesta, destroying the front end of the Ford. “I saw Novikov’s crash from far off then I just lost concentration and rolled”, said a gutted Latvala. Then the FIA ruled that Latvala could not continue on and he leaves Mexico with no points !
Mikko Hirvonen’s runner-up finish is a fine result, taking into account Rally Mexico was just his third event in the DS3 and who happens to be his Citroen team-mate.
Petter Solber salvages a podium spot for Ford after what was a trying weekend of repeated punctures for the Norwegian after he had gone quickest in qualifying and SS1. Mads Ostberg kept his driving neat and tidy to take fifth, ahead of Ott Tanak. Nasser Al-Attiyah excited the spectators with his enthusiastic driving style and demeanour. Armindo Araujo, Sébastien Ogier in the VW run Skoda Fabia S2000, American showman Ken Block and local driver Ricardo Trevino complete the points scoring order.
RESULTS (TOP 10)
1 Sébastien Loeb Citroen DS3 WRC
2 Mikko Hirvonen Citroen DS3 WRC +42.4s
3 Petter Solberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC+2:11.4s
4 Mads Ostberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC +4:51.5s
5 Ott Tänak Ford Fiesta RS WRC +5:02.6s
6 Nasser Al-Attiyah Citroen DS3 WRC + 6:41.4s
7 Armindo Araujo Mini JCW WRC +12:46.9s
8 Sébastien Ogier Skoda Fabia S2000 +14:57.8s
9 Ken Block Ford Fiesta RS WRC +22:26.8s
10 Ricardo Trivino Ford Fiesta RS WRC +23:30.7s
Final Results: http://www.wrc.com/results/2012/rally-guanajuato-mexico/final-results/
DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sébastien Loeb (FRA) 66 points
Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) 50 points
Petter Solberg (NOR) 47 points
Mads Østberg (NOR) 28 points
Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) 26 points
Evgeny Novikov (RUS) 21 points
Dani Sordo (ESP) 18 points
Ott Tänak (EST) 14 points
Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) 8 points
François Delecour (FRA) 8 points
Armindo Araújo (PRT) 7 points
Henning Solberg (NOR) 6 points
Pierre Campana (FRA) 6 points
Sébastien Ogier (FRA) 4 points
Patrik Sandell (SWE) 4 points
Martin Prokop (CZE) 4 points
Ken Block (USA) 2 points
Eyvind Brynildsen (NOR) 1 point
Ricardo Triviño (MEX) 1 point
Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) 50 points
Petter Solberg (NOR) 47 points
Mads Østberg (NOR) 28 points
Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) 26 points
Evgeny Novikov (RUS) 21 points
Dani Sordo (ESP) 18 points
Ott Tänak (EST) 14 points
Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) 8 points
François Delecour (FRA) 8 points
Armindo Araújo (PRT) 7 points
Henning Solberg (NOR) 6 points
Pierre Campana (FRA) 6 points
Sébastien Ogier (FRA) 4 points
Patrik Sandell (SWE) 4 points
Martin Prokop (CZE) 4 points
Ken Block (USA) 2 points
Eyvind Brynildsen (NOR) 1 point
Ricardo Triviño (MEX) 1 point
MotorsTV NEWS:
http://www.motorstv.com/car/rally/wrc/11032012/loeb-wins-rally-mexico
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