2023 Rally México – Saturday morning

Sébastien Ogier seized a commanding lead at Guanajuato Rally México on Saturday morning, capitalising on the misfortune of rival Esapekka Lappi.

With the duelling duo beginning Saturday’s penultimate leg separated by a mere 5.3 seconds, the strain was palpable. Each drivers knew that each tenth of a second would depend on the unforgiving terrain within the mountains round León.

Nonetheless, the closely-fought battle that was anticipated didn’t materialise when Lappi, who had held the higher hand, crashed his Hyundai i20 N simply 10.01km into the opening Ibarrilla stage. The Finn’s automobile collided with a utility pole earlier than briefly catching hearth.

“There was proper with a lower, and it went straight right into a left over a crest,” Lappi defined. “I used to be a bit caught out with this lower and I used to be delayed on the entry to the left. We went huge and hit the financial institution which spun us out instantly, and we hit the rear of the automobile.

“It is laborious to swallow. However then again, whenever you battle for the wins, you continue to have to push. I felt I used to be possibly not pushing laborious sufficient, really – I didn’t have the proper rhythm and I used to be not having the identical movement as what you actually have whenever you assault.”

His demise left Ogier with a snug lead of just about half a minute over Toyota GR Yaris colleague Elfyn Evans. The Frenchman, a six-time winner in Mexico, went into security mode for the morning’s remaining three levels, reaching the mid-leg service with an 28.5sec benefit.

Thierry Neuville’s morning was a constructive one, with the Belgian taking three stage wins aboard his Hyundai. In addition to transferring into podium place at Lappi’s expense, he additionally lowered his deficit to Evans to only 8.7sec.

One other 36.6sec behind in fourth total was Kalle Rovanperä. The Finn’s Toyota lacked traction on the unfastened gravel levels, however he carried a sizeable benefit over Dani Sordo, who ended the loop 43.1sec additional again along with his Hyundai.

Street blockages as a consequence of Lappi’s incident meant the WRC2 subject solely accomplished SS14. Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 star Gus Greensmith continued to guide the class from Adrien Fourmaux, whereas Emil Lindholm, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Oliver Solberg accomplished the highest 10.