Rally Mexico kicked off in style with a ceremonial start in Gunajuato, followed by a few days of rally madness in the slick Mexican gravel. The track proved to be difficult for some, with the high altitude also slowing down the top speed of the cars. After two sub-par performances in the previous races, Jari Matti-Latvala pulled it together in Mexico for a well deserved win. Click play and relive some of the best moments from the race!
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THE STAGE: Kuri bush is SS17 (final stage) of Rally Otago (Round 1 of the 2016 NZ Rally Championship). Iconic stage that is favoured by most. The old record of 7.34.1 held by Richard Mason from 2012, was bettered on this run by 10 seconds.
THE CAR: Hyundai i20 built by Force Motorsport (Auckland) and run by Paddon Rallysport. Car built in 2 months to new AP4 regulations (except engine and rear wing) and completed only 60km of testing before this – its debut rally. 1.8L turbo, 4WD, 6 speed sequential, Extreme dampers, full AP4 chassis.
“In 1980, I had the chance to drive a brand-new R5 Turbo,” Christophe Guerin says, “and it was such a thrill that I got hooked.”
That encounter, when he was 20, eventually led Guerin back to the Renault 5 Turbo 2 later in life. He certainly grew up in the right part of the world in order to become a car enthusiast: France.
“I was born in Le Mans, 15 minutes away from the legendary circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Guerin says. “My father worked at the Renault factory in Le Mans, and he was a handyman, so he gave me his passion for mechanics and repairs.”
What began as studies in a technical college led to wrenching for local rally teams, learning from the masters, and seeing what made cars fast. But a love for the tiny Renault never faded. Finally, after years, he asked a friend to find a good one to buy. “I need one,” he said, “Find a pristine one for me, and make sure it’s red.”
As it happens, the car he calls his “treat” was about to enter his life for good.
“When I saw it coming, it was…I almost dropped to my knees,” he says. “That sound—you can’t forget it.”
The Baja 4000 is a low budget marathon version of the Baja 1000. It is a charity rally from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas and back. 10 days. 4000kms