The 2023 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round three, Rally Mexico. Find out everything you need to know below.
Championship Rundown
Ott Tänak would take the win at Rally Sweden to take the championship lead. Reigning World Rally Champion, Kalle Rovanperä would remain second in the championship after a fourth-place finish in Sweden. It is worth noting however that Rovanperä technically led the championship into Sweden, as his Toyota teammate Sebastien Ogier who won Rallye Monte-Carlo would not be at the event. Thierry Neuville would move into third place in the championship, after finishing third in Sweden. Just nine points separate first and third place in the championship, so Rally Mexico could see some championship positions change at the event’s end.
Team Rundowns
Hyundai
The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team will look to build off their strong finish at Rally Sweden. As the team would place second and third, with Craig Breen even leading the rally at some points. Unfortunately for Hyundai Breen will not be at the event, as Dani Sordo will take Breen’s spot this weekend. Thierry Neuville will likely look to build off his third-place finish in Sweden. While also attempting to move up the championship standings. Esapekka Lappi will join Neuville and Sordo this weekend.
Toyota
The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally team had a less-than-desirable Rally Sweden. With the team having no drivers in the top three. Fortunately for Toyota, eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier will be joining the team this weekend. Ogier has won Rally Mexico six times, with all six coming in sets of three consecutive wins. Ogier’s last win at the event would come in the 2020 shortened version of Rally Mexico. Fortunately for Ogier, he has a slight advantage this weekend, as the route the 2023 running of Rally Mexico will use the same route as the 2020 version. A route in which he’s already won, minus a few stages due to the event ending one day early. Joining Ogier will be Toyota regulars Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta.
M-Sport Ford
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team will look to continue where they left off at Rally Sweden. As Ott Tänak would take the rally win. Tänak would become the first driver to win in a M-Sport Rally1 Puma since the 2022 running of Rallye Monte-Carlo when Sebastien Loeb won. Joining Tänak this weekend will be Pierre-Louis Loubet and Jourdan Serderidis.
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
