On the podium – Rally Mexico!

- I am absolutely mega-happy right now, I’ve been controlling this the whole weekend. I were not afraid to be first on the road on Saturday, even though I knew I were going to loose half a second per kilometer. It were my choice, and I knew I could still be top three, which were the main target for the weekend. There will be some strategic thinking before Jordan, but I must say this looks good for the rest of the season!

An amazing weekend is finished her in Mexico, with the Petter Solberg World Rally Team on the podium. It was a thriller to the final end, but Petter and Phil just got the second place in front of Sebastien Ogier who ended third. Sebastien Loeb won the event.

Overall classification Rally Mexico 2010

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroën
2. Petter Solberg, Citroën + 24,2
3. Sebastien Ogier, Citroën +25,3
4. Hirvonen, Ford +1.47,5
5. Latvala, Ford +2.15,1
6. Henning, Ford +2.48,0
7. Villagra, Ford +10.13,4

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Rally Mexico day 2

Day 2 in Mexico is done, with Petter and Phil still on the podium. Sebastien Loeb is in the lead, Petter is second and Sebastien Ogier is third.

Being the rally leader after day 1, also means that you have to be first on the road the next day, which in Mexico is not an advantage. – It’s been so slippery today. All that sand and gravel were a real challenge, said Petter Solberg after the final stage of the day. – Even on the second run through it was slippery. But, we are doing really good, and have been on the pace today anyway, so I’m very happy with the day. The car feels good, so will push real hard tomorrow to keep my second position, and to get some more fighting.

Only 3 more stages to go tomorrow, first car will be on the road from 0843 (local time). 4 stages were scheduled for tomorrow, but SS20 is already cancelled due to bad road-conditions.

Overall classification Rally Mexico day 2

1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Petter, Citroën +55,5
3. Ogier, Citroën +58,2
4. Latvala, Ford +1.43,9
5. Hirvonen, Ford +1.59,9
6. Henning, Ford +2.25,2
7. Villagra, Ford +9.11,8
8. Prokop, Ford +16.28,0
9. Pons, Ford +16.32,8
10. Araujo, Mitsubishi +18.04,7

13 of 22 stages

- The day has been exactly as planned. It’s much more tricky and slippery compared to yesterday, and we expected a loss of about 40 seconds. Still more stages to go, nothing is final yet. I’m very happy with the car.

Overall classification 13 of 22 stages
1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Petter, Citroën +17,8
3. Ogier, Citroën +19,9
4. Latvala, Citroën +1.20,7
5. Hirvonen, Ford +1.31,0
6. Henning, Ford +1.42,2
7. Villagra, Ford +6.33,4

Petter in the lead – day 1 Mexico

Petter and Phil had a fantastic day here in Mexico. With the fastest time on 5 of todays 9 stages, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team is now the overnight leader of Rally Mexico. Sebastien Ogier is second, 15 seconds behind, and Sebastien Loeb is third.

- Today has been good fun, Petter says. – Of course our road position was a good advantage, but still we have been fast. It will be more difficult tomorrow being first car on the road, but I will keep on enjoying the driving and the fight.

Together with the afternoon stages, came the questions about tactics and if Petter would drop down on the classification to avoid being first on the road tomorrow. – I have no reason to play tactics, Petter said. I’m here to drive as fast as possible not to play. We have no plan, no strategy, just to take it as it comes.

Rally Mexico continues with 8 more stages Saturday. First car will be on the road at 0754 (local time).

Overall classification, Rally Mexico day 1

1. Petter, Citroën 1.23.39,9
2. Ogier, Citroën +15,0
3. Loeb, Citroën +27,5
4. Sordo, Citroën +40,8
5. Latvala, Ford +1.01,2
6. Hirvonen, Ford +1.31,5
7. Henning, Ford +1.37,5
8. Wilson, Ford +2.47,2
9. Villagra, Ford +4.19,8
10. Block, Ford +4.33,3

Overall classification, 4 of 22 stages

- It’s been a good morning, says Petter Solberg. – Had a good road position, but still we have set some good times today. It’s been very slippery conditions, but I have tried to push and times have been good. We will see more tonight after the second run the stages.

Overall classification, 4 of 22 stages

1. Petter, Citroën
2. Ogier, Citroën +17,1
3. Loeb, Citroën +26,1
4. Sordo, Citroën +29,1
5. Latvala, Ford +40,3
6. Hirvonen, Ford +55,2
7. Henning, Ford +1.01,8
8. Wilson, Ford +1.28,2
9. Block, Ford +1.45,6
10. Villagra +2.26,5

Shakedown Mexico

Petter and Phil were fastest at todays Shakedown in Mexico. They did 5 runs through the 5,15km long stage, and the fastest time came on the final run. – We drove slowly on the 4 first runs, especially trough the water-splash, but on the final run we went flat out, said Petter Solberg after. – We found a good set up during the test, which worked well today.

A lot of drivers got into trouble today, caused by high speed into the water-splash. The road down to it were quite steep, and when hitting the water it went straight into the cooling system. When the road in to a water splash is more flat, the car just flows over the water without any damage.

Rally Mexico starts Friday morning (local time).

Shakedown times

1. Petter, Citroën 2.51,7
2. Sordo, Citroën 2.51,8
3. Ogier, Citroën 2.51,9
4. Loeb, Citroën 2.52,5
5. Räikkönen, Citroën 2.54,2
6. Hirvonen, Ford 2.55,3
7. Henning, Ford 2.56,2
8. Villagra, Ford 2.56,4
9. Wilson, Ford +2.59,9
10. Latvala, Ford +3.00,1

Rally Mexico 4 – 7 March

It’s rally-week again, and we are ready for the second event on the 2010 Championship – Rally Mexico. From the very winterly Sweden, we have now moved overseas to the sun in Mexico. We are in the city of Leon, which is the biggest city in the Guanajuato district, with 1,2 million inhabitants.

The Petter Solberg World Rally Team came to Mexico last week, and have done a two days test during the weekend. – It’s been two hard days, but I think we now got most of it in place for the rally, says Petter Solberg, who won this rally in 2005.

35 cars are on the entry-list for the rally, and they will compete a total of 348kms and 22 special stages during the weekend. Rally Mexico kicks off with a fantastic ceremonial start on Thursday evening, whilst the first stage is on from Friday morning.

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Next up – Rally Mexico

In just a few days time, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team heads overseas to Mexico and the second event in the 2010 championship. A two-days test is planned the weekend before the rally starts. Containers with all the long-haul equipment sailed off from Europe in January, and the rally-car will be air freighted early next week.

- We have put Sweden behind us now, and are fully focused on the upcoming event, says Petter Solberg. – I’ve always liked the roads in Mexico, and I’m pretty sure we will have some fun there! Petter and Phil won Rally Mexico in 2005.

Rally Mexico starts March 4th.