WRC: Volkswagen triumphs in Mexico
Third victory of season in Volkswagen Polo R WRC: in the third round of the World Rally Championship in Mexico, Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia celebrated victory in the Volkswagen Polo R WRC, which is equipped with a twin-plate clutch and dampers supplied by the ZF brand, ahead of their stablemates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila. Reigning Champion Ogier pulled out a lead of 26.1 seconds on the opening day of the season’s first gravel rally held in the summery climes of Central America and at altitudes of almost 2,800 metres. Despite cockpit temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius, the Frenchman flawlessly completed the 22 challenging special stages, grabbed the extra three points for the Drivers’ World Championship by winning the Power Stage and after ultimately crossed the finish line first by 1m 12.6s after collecting 14 best stage times. Ogier, who won last year in Mexico, now heads the overall standings ahead Latvala.
However, the Rally Mexico was anything but easy for the Volkswagen factory drivers Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula in the third Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Following a mishap with suspension damage and a roll, the duo had to restart twice under Rally 2 regulations. They ended their Mexican debut in 19th position.
Result Rally Mexico (MEX), FIA World Rally Championship WRC, round 3, 06.03–09.03.2014:
1. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen, 4h 27m 41.8s ZF
2. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila, Volkswagen, + 1m 12.6s ZF
3. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul, Hyundai, + 5m 28.6s
4. Elfyn Evans/Daniel Barritt, Ford, + 6m 49.3s
5. Martin Prokop/Jan Tománek, Ford, + 9m 54.4s
6. Benito Guerra/Borja Rozada, Ford, + 12m 57.6s
7. Chris Atkinson/Stéphane Prévot, Hyundai, + 15m 15.4s
8. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen, Ford, + 17m 06.8s
9. Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson, Citroën, + 25m 41.6s
10. Yuriy Protasov/Pavlo Cherepin, Ford, + 28m 18.2s
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. S. Ogier, 63 points; 2. J. Latvala, 60; 3. M. Østberg, 32; 4. A. Mikkelsen, 24; 5. E. Evans, 20; 6. B. Bouffier, 18; 7. M. Hirvonen, 18; 8. K. Meeke, 17; 9. T. Neuville, 15; 10. O. Tänak, 10.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Volkswagen Motorsport, 115; 2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT, 60; 3. M-Sport WRT, 40; 4. Hyundai Motorsport, 31.