Sebastien Loeb has won Rally Guanajuato Mexico for the fifth time and takes win number 63, as Fords Mikko Hirvonen takes Power stage bonus points

Photo: M-Sport

 

The 7 times champion began the final day of the event locked in a close battle with team-mate Sebastien Ogier, 10.5s adrift. But just 13Km’s into the first stage Ogier crashed on stage 20, Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena moved in front and were able to preserve their advantage until the finish in Leon.

It was an eventful round 2 to the championship with most of the competitors having problems. and although Loeb ultimately benefited from Ogier’s retirement, their win was all the more remarkable after they fought back from a 50-second time penalty incurred when they were late starting stage 15 following a problem with their gearbox.

Ford Driver Mikko Hirvonen takes his first stage win of the weekend on the final ‘Power stage’ which is broadcast live on television around the world. And finished second overall on rally Mexico, and gains an extra 3 bonus points for the championship.

Rally winner Sebastien Loeb completed the Power Stage by sharing the joint second-fastest time with Petter Solberg, 2.1 seconds slower than Hirvonen.

Solberg changed his strategy for the final day of the event by opting to carry one spare tyre in an effort to be as competitive as possible through the final stage, one of the WRC’s exciting new initiatives for 2011, in an attempt to take as many points as possible.

Photo: D.Darrall