Rally Mexico - Program

The third round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to the Americas for Rally Guanajuato Mexico, not only the first fly-away rally of the season, but the first on gravel. However, the stages in the hills and mountains surrounding León, Guanajuato and Silao pose no regular challenge as the altitudes reach in excess of 2,600 metres, an oxygen-sapping environment for crews and cars alike.

The event is once again based at Rally Campus in León but kicks off with its traditional start ceremony in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Guanajuato. With tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators cramming the narrow cobblestone streets, this is one of the highlights of the FIA World Rally Championship not to be missed. A short super special stage through the old mining tunnels also provides stunning imagery before the crews head back to León for the overnight halt via an all-new special stage.

This is the first event of the season where the name of semi-retired Sébastien Loeb is not on the entry list, paving the way for his rivals to capitalise on his absence. The Frenchman has, after all, won Rally Mexico six times and the cowboy boots traditionally given to the winning crew will be presented to new victors this year.

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012

Rally Mexico continues to strive to provide one of the most compact routes in the Championship and this year is again no different. Thirty-eight percent of the total distance is competitive over 23 stages, four of which are 30 kilometres in length, two are 42 kilometres and one that is a massive 54 kilometres.

The first new test runs on Thursday evening and is a 2.16 kilometre stage at Guanajuato’s Bicentennial Park, built to celebrate 200 years of Mexican independence. Friday sees the introduction of the second new stage, El Chocolate. Named after the little town half-way into the stage, this 30.57 kilometre stage will provide another fresh challenge for the crews.

Saturday is another long day with 150.07 kilometres of competition over familiar roads and, while Sunday is by far the shortest day, it nevertheless includes the 54.85 kilometre Guanajuatito stage, run immediately before the 21.14 kilometre Power Stage (Derramadero).

RALLY MEXICO TIMETABLE

— Round: 3/13
— Base: León
— Service Park: León Poliforum
— Surface: Gravel
— Weather: Generally sunny, with average temperatures between 10°C and 30°C
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 7.00am/6.53pm
— Local time: GMT-6
— Currency: Local currency is the Mexican Peso (EUR 1 = MXN 17).
— Website: www.rallymexico.com
— Technical information: Spare parts (transmission, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with the Sweden and Argentina rallies.
— Tyres: 28 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 28 hard compound and 16 soft compound tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Tuesday 5 March and Wednesday 6 March, from 7am to 7pm.
— Free practice and qualifying stage: Thursday, 7 March from 8am on a 6.27 km-long stage in Llano Grande, 19km from the service park.
— Route: 23 special stages (13 different stages). 394.88km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,026.30km.

THURSDAY 7 MARCH
8.00am: Free practice
11.23am: Qualifying stage (6.27km)
1.00pm: Selection of start order
1.30pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Media Centre – León Poliforum)
6.15pm: Start (León Poliforum)
8.00pm: Ceremonial start (Alhondiga – Guanajuato)
8.09pm: SS1 – Guanajuato (1.05km)
8.47pm: SS2 – Parque Bicentenario (2.60km)
9.47pm: Regroup (León Poliforum)

FRIDAY 8 MARCH
6.15am: Service Park A (León Poliforum – 15 min)
7.23am: SS3 – El Cubilete 1 (21.91km)
8.11am: SS4 – Las Minas 1 (15.31km)
8.52am: SS5 – Los Mexicanos 1 (9.76km)
9.35am: SS6 – El Chocolate 1 (30.57km)
11.38am: SS7 – Street Stage León 1 (1.23km)
12.10pm: Service Park B (León Poliforum – 30 min)
1.33pm: SS8 – El Cubilete 2 (21.91km)
2.21pm: SS9 – Las Minas 2 (15.31km)
3.02pm: SS10 – Los Mexicanos 2 (9.76km)
3.45pm: SS11 – El Chocolate 2 (30.57km)
6.00pm: SS12 – Super Special 1 (2.21km)
6.05pm: SS13 – Super Special 2 (2.21km)
6.45pm: Service Park C (León Poliforum – 45 min)

SATURDAY 9 MARCH
8.00am: Service Park D (León Poliforum – 15 min)
8.58am: SS14 – Ibarrilla 1 (30.04km)
10.16am: SS15 – Otates 1 (42.17km)
11.59am: SS16 – Street Stage León 2 (1.23km)
12.46pm: Service Park E (León Poliforum – 30 min)
2.04pm: SS17 – Ibarrilla 2 (30.04km)
3.22pm: SS18 – Otates 2 (42.17km)
5.12pm: SS19 – Super Special 3 (2.21km)
5.17pm: SS20 – Super Special 4 (2.21km)
5.57pm: Service Park F (45 min)

SUNDAY 10 MARCH
8.00am: Service Park G (León Poliforum – 45 min)
8.58am: SS21 – Guanajuatito (54.85km)
10.31am: SS22 – Derramadero Power Stage (21.14km)
11.46am: SS23 – Super Special 5 (4.42km)
12.39pm: Service Park H (León Poliforum – 10 min)
2.00pm: Podium (Foro del Lago)
2.45pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre – Poliforum)