"It’s a factor I will need to take into account in the way I drive, and I will also need to adapt my style to the lower engine power at high altitudes. We won this event last year, so we know that the C4 WRC is competitive in Mexico, and the whole team has worked very hard since last year’s visit. I will still tackle it cautiously, though, because we can’t afford to let the gap with our rivals get bigger."
Daniel Sordo meanwhile will be out to profit from his more favourable position in the order.
The Citroen #2 will run a lot further down the pack compared to Seb and that will give the Spaniard an advantage on the opening leg as a lot of the loose gravel will have been swept away.
Sordo has a good record in Mexico and while this will only be his third outing, he finished fourth last year and in 2006 with the Xsara.
"Mexico is something of a special event for me," he noted. "It’s a long way from Spain but it feels a bit like home. I like the atmosphere and the spectators give us a warm welcome.
"Like their Spanish counterparts, they let their enthusiasm show and it’s always nice to have their support. With the Manufacturers’ championship in mind, it will be important to try to finish ahead of our rivals in order to pocket as many points as possible for
Citroen. It won’t be easy, but I enjoyed good runs on my first two visits here.
"I feel at ease on these stages and I hope I will feel as comfortable with the C4 in León as I did recently in the slippery conditions we faced in Sweden. I will also try to profit from my running order on the first day."
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT:
[
Mikko Hirvonen, car #3 and
Jari-Matti Latvala, car #4]
Mikko: I will attack as hard as I can.
Mikko Hirvonen has admitted that while it will be tough running first in the order on the opening day of the Rally Mexico it isn’t something he minds too much.
The BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT #1 will have to run at the front on the first leg due to his position in the drivers’ championship.
