While Seb Ogier’s string of six consecutive World Rally Championship drivers’ title was snapped in 2019, the Frenchman – now with the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team run by Tommi Makinen – is back to winning rallies in 2020.
The Rally Guanajuato México was shortened by a day due to the widespread travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and Ogier was on top of the leaderboard when the organisers halted proceedings on Saturday night after he had seized the lead on Friday.
When the dust settled, Ogier finished ahead of reigning champion Ott Tanak, now with Hyundai, by 27.8 seconds, with Teemu Suninen a further 10 seconds back in a Ford. In terms of overall standings after the first three rallies, Ogier assumes the familiar position at the top with 62 points, followed by teammate Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville of Hyundai.
Like most motorsport events brought to a standstill by Covid-19 containment and travel restrictions, WRC and FIA won’t be able to ascertain when the season can resume. Rally Mexico was the last FIA-sanctioned motorsport event in the world to have been running before it was suspended.
