UNHAPPY OGIER MOVES TO THE FRONT IN MEXICO
With two hard-fought rounds under its collective belt and the balance of power teetering between Toyota and Hyundai, the World Rally Championship field decamped to the sunshine and its annual dose of Mexican fervour. By the time they left Central America, Sebastien Ogier had claimed his first win in a Yaris WRC and propelled himself to the top of the table. But he was unhappy that the event had taken place at all, and how long it will be for any rallies take place to put his leading position under threat is anyone’s guess.
The teams arrived having done what they could to prepare for their first all-gravel event of the season, with Hyundai dispatching Dani Sordo and Ott Tanak to Portugal for an outing on the Rally Serras de Fafe, and M-Sport taking in an extensive test in Spain. In addition to their dusty mileage, Malcolm Wilson’s team called upon Ford’s technical muscle to simulate the Mexican running conditions in a climatic chamber.
Before the start, Toyota’s championship leader Elfyn Evans was busy tipping illustrious team-mate Ogier to take his first win
