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Mountains of Mexico the first gravel test for WRC 2017

Mountains of Mexico the first gravel test for WRC 2017
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The third round of the FIA World Rally Championship presents a third unique challenge for the contenders as they head to the Americas for Rally Mexico (8-12 March). After the icy alpine roads of Rallye Monte-Carlo and the snow of Sweden, Mexico is more than just the first gravel round of the Championship. Temperatures hovering around 30°C add to the challenge, but it is the altitude that sets this event apart. With the route climbing to the highest point of the season at over 2,700 metres, engines struggle for power high in the Sierra de Lobos and Sierra de Guanajuato mountains, potentially forcing drivers to adapt their driving style to minimise the effect of the oxygen sapping elevations.

Rally Mexico has always been known for its innovative approach and this year promises yet more when the event roars into one of the world’s largest cities, the Ciudad de Mexico, for the first time. Zócalo square, which became internationally famous as the location for the amazing helicopter stunts which launched the James Bond movie ‘Spectre’ in 2015, will play host to a spectacular 1.57 kilometre super special stage, run twice, on Thursday evening before the crews head back to León for three days of action in the mountains.

Two events into the 2017 season and two different winners have already stood on the top step of the podium. With yet more uncertainly about how the all-new World Rally Cars will run in the heady heights of Mexico, the upcoming round of the series is sure to provide another fascinating chapter in what is developing into one of the most open seasons in decades.

The all-new Mexico City stage will be broadcast live, as well as SS11 (El Brinco) and the closing Power Stage.

ROUTE GRAPHICS

2017-map-mexico-ss.png

THE 2017 ROUTE

The route for this year’s event will be familiar, although with revisions to the configuration of stages, it will remain a busy recce for the crews. With the event headlined by the new street stage in Mexico City, the hugely popular and spectacular Guanajuato stage – which runs through the old mining tunnels in the UNESCO World Heritage town – has now moved to Friday evening. With a host of other short super special stages, Rally Mexico provides a potent mix of quick-fire action with some of the longest, most challenging, hottest and highest stages in the Championship.

WHAT WE SAID…

“Rally Mexico has always been at the forefront of innovation so I can’t say I was surprised when they came with the proposal to take the event to Mexico City,” said Jarmo Mahonen, FIA Rally Director. “Running a super special stage in one of the world’s largest cities, and in such a high profile location, is ground-breaking for the WRC and really takes our sport to the doorstep of the people. The Mexicans are such passionate people, we’ve seen so much of that in the WRC already, but I think the atmosphere, number of spectators, images and spectacle is going to be on another level again;  something very special.”

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:
897.90 km
369.03 km (41%)
19

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located in the Media Centre at Rally Campus, Blvd. Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Esq. Blvd. Francisco Villa, León. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 7 March
Wednesday 8 March
Thursday 9 March
14:00 – 18:00 hrs
08:00 – 18:00 hrs
08:00 – 18:00 hrs
10:00 – 18:00 hrs (Mexico City, on request)

RALLY MEXICO TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 8 March
Mandatory media safety briefing, photographers’
room, Rally Campus
Shakedown (P1 drivers)
Shakedown (Priority drivers)
‘Meet the Crews’, Service Park, Rally Campus

Thursday 9 March
FIA Press Conference, CDMX Casa de Los Azulejos
Driver photo-shoot, CDMX Zócalo
Autograph session and PR activities, CDMX Zócalo
Start of section 1, CDMX Zócalo

Friday 10 March
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone,
Rally Campus
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone,
Rally Campus
‘Meet the Crews’, Service Park, Rally Campus

Saturday 11 March
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone,
Rally Campus
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone,
Rally Campus
‘Meet the Crews’, Service Park, Rally Campus

Sunday 12 March
Regroup, Nuevo Valle
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Foro del Lago
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Rally Campus

12:00 hrs

16:00-17:30 hrs
17:30-19:00 hrs
19:15 hrs

12:00 hrs
15:00 hrs
15:15 hrs
18:05 hrs

14:21 hrs

21:04 hrs

During the 45′ service

12:38 hrs

18:57 hrs

During the 45′ service

11:23 hrs
14:30 hrs
15:30 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 9 March

Sunday 12 February

Benito Guerra, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Eric Camilli, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Kris Meeke, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Motorsport
Sébastien Ogier, M-Sport World Rally Team
Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT

Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning competitor

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLY MEXICO

M-Sport World Rally Team

Hyundai Motorsport

Citroën Total Abu Dhabi
WRT

Toyota GAZOO
Racing WRT

Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (#1)
Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja  (#2)
Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (#3)

Hayden Paddon / John Kennard (#4)
Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (#5)
Dani Sordo / Marc Marti (#6)

Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle (#7)
Stéphane Lefebvre / Gabin Moreau (#8)

Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (#10)
Juho Hänninen / Kaj Lindström (#11)

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2017/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2017/stage-chart-14

Source : fia.com

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David Martin-Janiak Motorsports has always been a passion for me, I've raced in Karting and now I have my own Motorsports news website, so i can help other racers convey their passion to the world!

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