Rally Mexico celebrates its 15th anniversary

To celebrate its 15 years, the Rally Mexico started again at home, on the streets of Guanajuato, in what became a party for the thousands of people who gathered to witness the start of the third round of the season.

In 2017, the traditional WRC competition moved its start to the Zocalo of Mexico City, in a stage marked by rain and problems for the cars to reach Leon the next day.

For these 15 years, the first stop was the Juarez Theater in the city of Guanajuato, after which the cars passed through two tunnels and the Unesco roundabout, to finish at the historic Granaditas Alhondiga in a green, white and red atmosphere, where there was even mariachi.

"The Rally completes 15 uninterrupted years, a record for an international sporting event in the country, we wanted to return to its birthplace, where it grew and consolidated; the experience in Mexico City was good, but Guanajuato is its home," said Juan Suberville, director of the Rally Mexico.

To inaugurate the 2018 edition, the competition had a special guest, the Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (Citroën), nine-time WRC champion, who was the first to start for his reappearance in the series after three years of absence.

"It was very different from what I remembered, but the atmosphere is extraordinary and the people know a lot about rallies, it is one of my favorite dates and I have had success here," recalled the Frenchman, six-time winner in Leon, who finished in tenth position (2:11.4 minutes).

The first leader was the Spaniard Dani Sordo (Hyundai), who did not participate in the last competition in Sweden. "The goal is to try to fight for victory, we have a good position to do so and I will try to achieve that triumph," he said.

However, last year's winner in Guanajuato, the British Kris Meeke (Citroën), overtook him and then the Estonian Ott Tänak (Toyota) did the same.

But the biggest ovation, even greater than Loeb's, was received by his heir in WRC dominance, the Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford), who had problems at the first corner in the Juarez Theater.

He ended his performance by getting into the car, asking for applause and wearing a wrestler's mask. The crowd responded with the chant of 'ole, ole, Ogier, Ogier'.

"I like to put on a show to thank the people who were here, the atmosphere is special, there is a lot of noise and it is the best start of the season," he said.

His rival in the fight for the lead, the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), won the first stage of the Rally Mexico with a time of 2:06.07 minutes, followed by Tänak and Ogier.

Troubles of returning

Before the start, Loeb talked about his historic return to the World Rally Championship for the Mexico, Spain, and France rounds and acknowledged that it has been hard for him.

"Two weeks ago, I got in the car, it felt good, there are new rules, an evolution, the car is faster, but it's positive; it's difficult to know what I can do because for me it's not easy to fight with the others," he said.

"I'm glad to see him back, I think he can do good things and fight for the victory," Sordo concluded about the drivers' feeling of seeing the legend back for the 15 years of Rally Mexico.

First stage

Driver / Time
1. T. Neuville (Hyundai) / 2:06.7
2. O. Tänak (Toyota) / 2:08.6
3. S. Ogier (M-Sport Ford) / 2:08.7
4. J. Latvala (Toyota) / 2:09.2
5. E. Lappi (Toyota) / 2:09.6

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