RALLY MEXICO 2012

Rally Mexico, which made its first appearance in the WRC in 2004 and has been part of the calendar every year since with just one exception, 2009, has been lengthened for 2012 (430+kms versus 370 in 2011). At 55km in length, SS23 "Guanajuatito", is one of the longest stages of the season. Day one will feature two new sectors: "Las Minas" and "Los Mexicanos". Saturday will mark the debut of a new stage, "Otates" (41km). The "Guanajuatito" stage on day three is now 15km long. As in Sweden, a qualifying session will determine the starting order for the opening day of action in Mexico.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2012
Sébastien Loeb won Rally Mexico for a sixth consecutive time and with team-mate Mikko Hirvonen taking the runners-ups spot, Citroen bagged its first one-two result of the season. Yet, the Ford drivers were the ones who got off to a fast start on round 3 of the World Rally Championship: Petter Solberg set best time in qualifying and on SS1, before suffering a puncture on SS2. Jari-Matti Latvala was the pace setter early on until he suffered front suspension damage SS5 and dropped to eighth. Latvala battled back up to third place, before he too fell victim to a flat tyre. The Finn put in a memorable performance to move back up to third before it all went for naught on SS22 when he rolled his Fiesta RS WRC. Severe damage to the roll cage brought his Rally Mexico to a tragic end.  Solberg inherited a spot on the podium and equalled Hirvonen's point tally of 15 in taking the three bonus points for best time on the Power Stage. Loeb leads Hirvonen in the championship by 16 points.
 

2013 : Sébastien Ogier
2012 : Sébastien Loeb
2011 : Sébastien Loeb
2010 : Sébastien Loeb
2008 : Sébastien Loeb
2007 : Sébastien Loeb
2006 : Sébastien Loeb

1 - Ogier
2 - Hirvonen
3 - Neuville
4 - Dani Sordo
5 - Al Attiyah
6 - Atkinson
7 - Block
8 - Guerra
9 - Prokop
10 - Evgeny Novikov

Thursday March 8
 Qualifying stage – 10h33 (4.75km)
SS1 Guanajuato Street Stage
20h09 (1.05km)

Friday March 9
SS 2 Las Minas 1
9h23 (21.70km)
SS3 Ortega 1
10h01 (23.83km)
SS4 El Cubilete 1
11h24 (23.70km)
SS5 Los Mexicanos 1
12h12 (10.10km)
SS6 Las Minas 2
13h25 (21.70km)
SS7 Ortega 2
14h03 (23.83km)
SS8 El Cubilete 2
15h26 (23.70km)
SS9 Los Mexicanos 2
16h14 (10.10km)
SS10 Leon Street Stage
17h47 (1.33km)
SS11 Super Special stage 1
20h44 (2.21km)
SS12 Super Special 2
20h49 (2.21km)

Total km: 441.43 including 164.41 of speciaql stages

Saturday March 10
SS13 Ibarrilla 1 
7h24 (29.90km)
SS14 Otates 1
8h37 (41.52km)
SS15 Comanjilla 1
11h48 (17.93km)
SS16 Super Special stage 3
13h08 (2.21km)
SS17 Super Special stage 4
13h13 (2.21km)
SS18 Comanjilla 2 
13h46 (17.93km)
SS19 Leon Street Stage 2
14h54 (1.33km)
SS20 Ibarrilla 2
16h41 (29.90km)
SS21 Otates 2
17h54 (41.52km)

Total km: 410.19 including 184.45 of special stages

Sunday March 11
SS22 Super Special stage 5 – 9h40 (2.21km)
SS23 Guanajuatito – 10h28 (54.76km)
SS24 Derramadero – 12h11 (13km)
SS25 Guanajuato – 13h24 (8.28km)

Total km: 165.56 including 80.46 of special stages

Name: Sébastien Ogier
Date of birth: 1983, 17 December
Country: France
Start WRC: Mexico 2008
Codriver: Julien Ingrassia
Julien Ingrassia >>