Rally Mexico – Behind Ogier, an indecisive fight for 2nd place between Evans and Neuville

With the early and spectacular exit of leader Esapekka Lappi from the first stage on Saturday at Rally du Mexico 2023 Sébastien Ogier who started strong found himself isolated at the front of the race. Accustomed to managing this type of challenge, the eight-time world champion did not give up. Continuing to drive fast to maintain his concentration, the Frenchman returned to the last service park with a 35″8 margin over his closest rival. Barring an error or incident, Ogier should win his 7^e success in Mexico. While the TGR driver pranced in the lead, a nice battle took place throughout the stage.

Third in the general classification on Friday evening, Elfyn Evans was 9″7 ahead of Thierry Neuville. The latter was the big man of the day with 4 best times during the 8 special stages run. If Evans had been the quickest to set off on Saturday morning, bringing the gap to 11″6, the Belgian then continued to reduce it, erasing 0″7 here, 0″5 there… At the break , he was only 8″7 behind.

Durant l’après-midi, les deux hommes reprenaient leur duel, Neuville enlevant encore 0″2, 2″6 puis 1″1 pour finalement se placer à seulement 4″3 de la Toyota.

This superb battle will have its epilogue during a Sunday which promises to be selective. A new passage in the Las Dunas special which is very degraded will open the day before the longest section of the weekend, Otates and its 35,63 km in which anything can happen. Finally, two final stages including the Power Stage will close this 3^e test of the season. Whether at Elfyn's or Thierry's, neither of them has decided to take their foot off the gas.

« It would have been difficult to do better, smiled Neuville on Saturday evening. We had a puncture at the end of SS18. This prevented us from gaining more seconds. The behavior of the car was very good during the 2^e loop, but I lacked a bit of grip, so we're not yet 100% where I'd like to be. However, the differences remain minimal and we are in the match. We are going to attack. Kalle Rovanperä being just behind, we must already record more points than him. The Power Stage is also going to be important. It would be really nice to arrive 1^er of the championship in Croatia so as not to have to open the road. »

In a completely different style, Elfyn Evans did not admit defeat. “ We completed a solid stage without making any mistakes and without encountering any problems., analyzed the Welshman. Thierry has certainly come closer, but there is still a gap and we will try to preserve it. It won't be easy, especially in the long section which offers kilometers that we have already done and others that we will take for the first time. There's not much to think about, we have to fight. So far, I have the feeling that I have mainly been careful to have very clean driving, so I may still have a small margin… but we will have to be careful not to exceed it. »

Four special stages representing 61,36 timed kilometers will be contested on Sunday from 15:08 p.m. in France.

2 ranking^e stage of the Rally of Mexico

ALSO READ > Cyril Abiteboul wants to advance simulation methods