Mar. 06, 2020
Rally Mexico: Preview
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing aims to continue its strong start in the Mexican heat
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team heads to Rally Mexico (March 12-15)―the first true gravel event of the season―aiming to continue its impressive start to the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship and achieve another top result. Elfyn Evans travels to Mexico leading the drivers' championship for the first time after his win on Rally Sweden, with team-mate Sébastien Ogier (a five-time winner of Rally Mexico) just five points behind, while Kalle Rovanperä is fresh from his record-breaking maiden podium on the previous event.
- 2020 Yaris WRC
After the winter conditions of Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Sweden, Rally Mexico provides a considerable contrast for the teams and drivers. It is usually one of the warmest events of the season, with ambient temperatures that can reach 30°C, and is also the highest round on the calendar, with the route climbing to 2,737m above sea level. At such altitude, the thinner air reduces engine power by as much as 20 per cent.
As usual, the rally will start in colourful Guanajuato on Thursday evening, where fans will be treated to double the action with two competitive runs through the city's streets and tunnels. There will be a total of 10 stages on Friday, including a loop of three gravel stages run twice. The morning is followed by a new test at Guanajuato Bicentennial Park, and the afternoon completed in host city León by two runs around the local racing circuit and a short street stage. Two more laps of the racing circuit plus a different street stage adjacent to the service park round out Saturday's action, after another three repeated gravel stages. There are three more stages to end the rally on Sunday, with El Brinco hosting the Power Stage finale.
Quotes
- Tommi Mäkinen (Team Principal)
- "It has been a brilliant start to the season for the whole team and, of course, we hope to keep it going in Mexico. It is a rally where we know that the altitude and the high temperatures can make it tough for the cars. We have worked very hard and improved a lot in this area since we started: We already saw there last year that we had no issues with the cooling, and the speed was very good too. So I am feeling confident that we can go there and have another strong rally with our three crews, who have all settled in to the team incredibly well so far."
Sébastien Ogier (Driver car 17)
Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
Kalle Rovanperä (Driver car 69)
- Map Rally Mexico 2020
(Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest.)
The statistics (Rally Mexico)
Year | Sébastien Ogier | Elfyn Evans | Kalle Rovanperä |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | 1 | 3 | - |
2018 | 1 | DNF | 15 |
2017 | 2 | 9 | - |
2016 | 2 | - | - |
2015 | 1 | 4 | - |
2014 | 1 | 4 | - |
What happened last year?
Ott Tänak claimed the team's first Rally Mexico podium finish in second overall, moving up from third place on the final day to increase his and the team's championship leads. Kris Meeke briefly led the rally before a puncture, and finished fifth overall. Jari-Matti Latvala was eighth having restarted the rally on Saturday.
- Rally Mexico 2019
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