Will Ogier open his account with Toyota in Mexico?

With five successes Rally from Mexico, Sébastien Ogier will approach this test with optimism next week. The six-time world champion won with three different models between 2013 and 201 and now hopes to win with the Toyota Yaris WRC. The Gapençais will also have the advantage of starting from 3rd position on the road and will thus benefit from a swept road during the first stage.

“I am always happy to go to Mexico every yearhe says. I have so many good memories here. This is where I took my first WRC victory in 2008, when I started with a victory in the Junior category and we have had many successes since. »

“I had the chance to take part in two days of testing recently in Spain and my first impressions of the car on gravel were very good, adds the tricolor pilot. We had good pace in the first two events, but we have not yet managed to impose ourselves and that will clearly be the objective in Mexico. I'm starting to feel more comfortable after driving the Yaris WRC more. »

His teammate Elfyn Evans will have more difficulty opening the road, the Welshman leading the championship after his victory at Rally Sweden.

“We are having a superb start to the season, reports the leader. As in the first two events, Mexico will offer specific challenges to which we will have to adapt. We had good feelings during the first two rounds and we hope it will be the same in Mexico. It won't be easy when we open the road, but we have to put it aside and concentrate on the job. »

Kalle Rovanperä will be the least experienced, but the Finn also has the potential to do well.

“It was during testing in Spain that we were able to discover the Yaris WRC on gravel, but I gradually got used to the sensations, explains the driver of the No. 69 Toyota. We tested different settings and I think we got a good compromise. I competed in the Mexico Rally two years ago and the biggest difficulty remains the altitude where you have to adapt your driving style. We had a great rally in Sweden, but Mexico could be one of the toughest events of the year for me with my experience. »

Toyota remains confident in the reliability of its Yaris after improving cooling and obtaining good speed boosts last year.