WRC co-ordinator gives Mexico favourable report.

Charles Reynolds, the FIA Co-ordinator for the World Rally Championship, attended this weekend's Corona Rally Mexico, his role to look at all the sporting and logistical elements on behalf of the teams contesting the FIA World Rally Championship.

Commenting on his observations, he said: "From the FIA's side, most elements required to run a World Championship event are in place. This is obviously quite a learning curve, but the organisers have a thorough understanding of what needs to be achieved.

"It is the job of the Observers to look at the stages and the timing system and to ensure that marshals and security are all as they should be, but I went out to the stages on Saturday and the quality and level of efficiency all looked very good.

"All the pre-event documentation and rally paperwork was very much what would be expected of a World Rally Championship event.

"From the team's side, I have been through all the logistics for both sea and air transportation and again there is complete understanding of the requirements. The hotels and infrastructure are also of a good standard, which is important for all the personnel who travel to the events, whether it is drivers, team personnel, VIPs or the international media.

"Unquestionably the teams will like the service area at the Poliforum. Its location indoors is not a problem as it is air-conditioned and all the amenities and facilities, such as power, water and toilets are all already in place, being that it is an exhibition facility. There is more than enough room outside as well to accommodate other competitors and on the basis of a 90 car entry, everyone would essentially be under one roof.

"The layout and proximity of the stages fit absolutely with the current regulations and the amount of work undertaken on the stages is very evident. They are very challenging, although don't always follow a natural line - like stages in the Welsh forests for example - but they're good all the same.

"Stage security is obviously the responsibility of the FIA Safety Delegate Jacek Bartos, but even though there were few spectators, there were still marshals blowing whistles to alert people of an approaching car. It's an indication of how seriously the organisers are taking the job.

"Overall, the whole organising team is helpful and they've got enough skilled people to do the job. With 12 permanent members of the team, Corona Rally Mexico is among the largest in the World Championship.

"The start ceremony in Guanajuato was fantastic and it seems a shame not to make more of the labyrinth of underground tunnels, although I don't quite know how this could be done. They really were unbelievable - it's almost a pity you can't have the start of the rally in one of them!

"The event brings home a different culture and if we're trying to build a World Championship which incorporates traditional values, then it's great to have somewhere like this that's very different.

"Overall there is a will and an ability to know and understand what is required. I think that has come from an organisation team which has sent many people to different rounds of the World Rally Championship."