Rally Mexico 2013 : A Great Rally to Remember!

This is our 3rd time for attending in 10^th edition of World Rally Championship (WRC) in Guanajuato, Mexico, in March 7^th 2013  to March 10^th 2013.

Pilots in action during Rally Mexico.

León, the city principal for the rally, welcomed all pilots and co-pilots, team, sponsored, supporters and media from all over the world to be witnesses in the history of Mexico´s rally and the world.

This is rally!

The pilots and co-pilos are..

There were 13 pilots and 13 co-pilots from 15 different countries: Mexico (Benito Guerra – Borja Rozada), France (Sébastien Ogier – Julien Ingrassia),  Belgium (Thierry Neuville – Nicolas Gilsoul – Stépahane Prévot), Finland (Mikko Hirvonen – Jarmo Lehtinen – Jari-Matti Latvala – Mikka Antilla), Norway (Mads Ostberg), USA (Ken Block – Alex Gelsomino), Polandia (Michal Kosciuszko – Maciej Szczepaniak), Czech (Martin Prokop – Michal Ernst), Russia (evgeny Novikov) , Spain (Dani Sordo – Carlos del Barrio), Austria (Ilka Minor), Qatar (Nasser Al – Atthiyah), Italia (Giovanni Bernacchini) and Australia (Chris Atkinson).

The pilots.

It was amazing to see them together in WRC Rally Mexico even though they talked in different languages and they wore the different rally costume team.

All the tracks that They Had to Pass...

Actually, it was not easy to pass different tracks during Rally Mexico. There were 23 tracks different to pass, consist of four stages of 30 km, two stages of 42 km, and one stage of 54 km.

The tracks that they had to pass.

We though all the pilots were enjoyed all the stages. And us, as supporters were enjoyed it, too.

Lucky us to watch the rally from a  helicopter.

Two important moments: Autograph Signing and Photo session

For all supporters, the most important moment was they could see their favorites drivers directly. And also, they could get their signatures. Last but not least, they could have a photo session together. It´s including me!

With the winners, Sébastien Ogier (above); Thierry Neuville (left below in the 3rd place).

What a poor pilots and copilots! Meanwhile they very tired, they had to smile to the supporter. Yes, they were realized that the supporters were important!

The supporters: Why we loved them

From the beginning of the rally, the supporters had known the rally track where the pilots used to pass. They came very early in the morning to get a good sight to see the rally.

Supporters during the rally.

We could see something different in supporters: they brought a tent to sleep during the rally. They brought also food and cooler to put the drink fresh. And also, I saw a woman cook and sell the tacos! What an idea….

The committee also organized a rally tour for whom wanted to assist every step of the rally. And we were one of the supporters who participated in this tour. The advantages of the tour, we could get access in important track, VIP seat in Special stages and got closed to the pilots and copilots before they had their performance.

And the winners...

Sébastien Ogier – Julien Ingrassia (France / VW Polo got their success to be a first winner in Rally Mexico 2013. And second winner were Mikko Hirvonen – Jarmo Lehtinen (Finland/Citroën team) and the 3^rd place were Thierry Neuville – Nicolas Gilsoul (Belgium / Qatar M-Sport Ford).

They are the winner of Rally Mexico!

This was the 2nd podiom in Mexico Rally for Sébastien Ogier - Julien Inggrasia after the 1st winner in Junior WRC in 2008. Félicitations, les français!

Did you know?

• There was a WRC2 Competition during WRC Rally Mexico. The participants came from different countries also: Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Italia, Colombia, Qatar and USA.
• Designer and the mechanics were having role important during the rally. They designed and repaired or modified the machine´s car. And the pilots must be known also the car. There must be a team work for this competition.

The mecanics worked hard.

• The commitee worked very hard to realize this event. Bravo for all of them!

See you next year! Hasta el año próximo! A l´année prochaine!

This is rally location this year in Estado Guanajuato.

Photos: Ita, LGN

Maps: google maps

A reportage about this Rally in Indonesian on Daily Sylvia