Ogier “super happy’ with Mexican win

March 12, 2018 0 Comments

Sébastien Ogier said that we was “super happy” after he and co-driver Julien Ingrassia won Rally Mexico for the fourth time – which was also the perfect way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their FIA World Rally Championship debut.

Having been 31 seconds adrift of the lead after starting in an unfavourable road position, the five-time World Champions turned that into a 1min 03.6sec win, after a brilliantly timed drive in their M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Fiesta WRC.

Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio finished second in a Hyundai, with Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle third for Citroen – despite rolling after sliding wide of a cobbled harpin. Sébastian Loeb/Daniel Elena led the event, until they lost over two minutes when they had to stop and change a puncture. They eventually finished fifth, behind Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger.

“I’m super happy today and this win is a fantastic way for me and Julien to celebrate our tenth year anniversary in the FIA World Rally Championship,” said Ogier. “It started in 2008 with a win in the Junior category and so many great things have happened here since then – this win, I think, being one of the best.

“This weekend we really gave it everything. Julien was perfect, and the team were so strong as well. The victory is great of course, but it’s the performance that was really good. We’ve made such a big improvement from last year, and that is a big positive for the rest of the season.

“I was pretty much on the limit all weekend. When you’re early on the road you’re trying your best but the time is still far away from those starting behind. There’s always some frustration coming with that, but you have to keep going and not give up.

“That’s what we did, and on the second day – when our road position was a bit better – we kept pushing and were able to take the lead in the afternoon.

“We can be very proud this weekend, and there’s not a lot we could have done better. We gave it everything – right up until the final stage.”

Sébastien Ogier said Julien Ingrassia wear Stilo WRC Zero helmets.