Rally Mexico promises an ‘extreme challenge’ for Volkswagen Motorsport
Two S2000 wins into the 2012 World Rally Championship, the Volkswagen Motorsport team faces an extreme challenge later this week on the Rally Mexico, which runs from 8-11 March, over 24 stages and 407km. At altitudes of 2000m, the geographically highest stages this season (2000m above sea level) will push the drivers and cars to their limits. Due to the low oxygen content of the air at these high altitudes, the engines’ outputs drop by around 20 per cent. The familiar pairing of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will be joined by Dutchman Kevin Abbring and his new co-driver Frédéric Miclotte.
‘Despite special engine tuning we’ll have less engine power in Mexico than at other rallies,’ said Sébastien Ogier. ‘As drivers, we’ve got to adjust to that. In addition, the high temperatures make it necessary for us to drink a lot so that our concentration won’t suffer during the special stages.’ Abbring meanwhile, clinched S2000 victory in his last Volkswagen Motorsport outing at Rallye Monte Carlo and is competing in the Latin American event for the first time. ‘The gravel stages are good for me, not least due to my experiences in the 2010 French Gravel Championship. I am looking forward to the 54-kilometre spectator stage through the tunnels in Guanajuato on Thursday, with thousands of spectators.’
