Seb will run third on the road on the first leg, after having slipped behind BP Ford’s Marcus Gronholm and
Mikko Hirvonen in the drivers’ championship, as a result of his ‘no score’ in Norway. The Frenchman’s uncharacteristic off three weeks ago cost him over 8 minutes and left him languishing outside the top ten. Although he managed to make up some ground and take the final manufacturers’ point for
Citroen, he was too far back to get any points for himself.
“It's effectively been some time since I last wasn't first on the road. It's a double-edged thing though because it also means we're not leading the championship,” he conceded.
“But that could play in our favour in Mexico. We will try to profit from the situation to achieve our goal which is to win.”
Asked about the Rally Mexico in more detail, Seb noted it’s definitely an event he enjoys, especially as he won it for the first time last year.
“Up until last year, I did enjoy it but it wasn't very successful for me. After winning it last year and I like it even more! The stages are fast and tough on tyres because the weather is often hot and the surface is quite hard-packed,” he added. “But there are also some slower, sandier, technically demanding portions.
“The other big feature is the altitude which causes a big drop in engine power. The phenomenon is a bit surprising to begin with but everyone is in the same boat and you soon get used to it.
“The country itself is very different and there are more and more spectators every year.”
Daniel Sordo meanwhile has conceded that he is starting to feel a bit of the pressure that comes with being with a works team. Sordo began the year in style by taking the runners-up spot on the Rallye Monte Carlo, the opening round in the 2007
FIA World Rally Championship, but since then he has not done so well in Sweden and Norway, where he struggled to get to grips with the snow.
