After their mishap on the second stage of the rally, Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen had a good re-start on Saturday morning. They won WRC 2 category in the opening stage ahead of their teammates Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson. On the next two stages, the reigning WRC 2 Champion was the fastest driver. Both ŠKODA factory crews seemed to be unbeatable on the tough and demanding gravel stages of Rally Mexico. But the challenge for both drivers was all but easy. “Pontus should be focused to avoid unnecessary risks, for Kalle it is all about getting more experience of the Mexican stages. Our ŠKODA FABIA R5 proved again speed and reliability on tough gravel roads,” emphasized ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek.
Pontus Tidemand, leading the WRC 2 category with a massive lead at the end of the Saturday leg, confessed: “It is very hard to find a really good rhythm, but I think I found it in the end. It is all about a good balance. If you drive too slowly, you lose concentration and the car does not work well.” 17 years old youngster Kalle Rovanperä followed the order of the team as well and stressed out: “We have been carefully this morning. After what happened yesterday to us, it is all about learning and getting more experience.” Although both ŠKODA factory teams drove concentrated and safely, no WRC 2 competitor could match their speed. During the Saturday leg, between them they won all stages, with Tidemand being quickest five times while Rovanperä scored four best times.
On Sunday (11 March), Rally Mexico features three more stages covering final 46.46 kilometres, including the Powerstage “Las Minas”, before the winner will be on the podium on Sunday at 14h30 (local time). Rally Guanajuato Mexico is based in Léon, the country’s fifth largest city some 400 kms north-west of Mexico City.
Standings Rally Mexico after Day 3 (WRC 2)
1. Tidemand/Andersson (SWE/SWE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, 3:34:27.3 h
2. Greensmith/Parry (GBR/GBR), Ford Fiesta R5, +5:42.6 min.
3. Heller/Olmos (CHL/ARG), Ford Fiesta R5, +12:18.8 min.
4. Bulacia Wilkinson/Mussano (BOL/ARG), Ford Fiesta R5, +20:30.6 min.
5. Rovanperä/Halttunen (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA FABIA R5, +1:02.55.1 h
Number of the day: 7
ŠKODA works driver Pontus Tidemand is not only leading the WRC 2 category at the Rally Mexico, he currently is also holding 7th position of the overall classification.
The 2018 calendar of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)
Event/Date
Monte-Carlo 24/01/–28/01/2018
Sweden 15/02/–18/02/2018
Mexico 08/03/–11/03/2018
France 05/04/–08/04/2018
Argentina 26/04/–29/04/2018
Portugal 17/05/–20/05/2018
Italy 07/06/–10/06/2018
Finland 26/07/–29/07/2018
Germany 16/08/–19/08/2018
Turkey 13/09/–16/09/2018
Great Britain 04/10/–07/10/2018
Spain 25/10/–28/10/2018
Australia 15/11/–18/11/2018
