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With the field now dwindling thanks to the loss of Tanak, Paddon and Meeke, and with Kubica struggling with a heavily damaged car, it’s becoming a real game of endurance and concentration in Mexico. The first 6.3km of the 15.54km Las Minas stage, SS5, are very tight and twisty, with the road opening and becoming faster as the latter part of the stage goes on. Loose rocks can also play a part, with the first cars through bound to suffer with hazardous road-sweeping duties.
 Ott Tanak in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS went off the road and has not been found yet. Kris Meeke in the Abu Dhabi Citroen DS3 also had an off and has withdrawn for the day. Hayden Paddon in die Hyundia severely damaged the suspension of the car and could not continue, while Robert Kubica in die Ford Fiesta is struggling along with severe body damage after going off the road
Latest report just in says that Tanak’s car went off the road and landed in a reservior. He and his co-driver are unharmed.. Ogier yet again proved that being first on the road this will not stop him. However, it was Neuville that took the stage win with a time of 11.07.5, 4.4 seconds faster than the rally leader, reducing his lead to 8.9 seconds. ‘A crazy stage, but everything went well.’ commented Neuville. ‘A couple of small moments but mostly perfect. We hit a stone in the previous stage, it was put in a cut by spectators, and I was a bit angry. Without that I think we could be leading.’ Latvala came home third fastest, but showed some frustration. ‘I need to improve my driving. The feeling has not been the best today and I don’t know why. But that’s how it is.’ he added. He completed the stage 5.3 seconds down on Neuville. Ostberg, Evans and Mikkelsen completing the fastest six. Overall this puts Ogier under pressure, with the top three (rounded out by Latvala) separated by fifteen seconds. We’re still waiting for more news on the retirees – all have been declared as uninjured after incidents, but little else has been announced as yet. |
