Sensational return for Loeb

Sensational return for Loeb

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Morrigan Quinn
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Nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb staged a remarkable return to end Friday’s opening leg of Rally Guanajuato Mexico just seconds behind leader Dani Sordo.

The 44-year-old Frenchman, driving his first WRC rally for more than three years and his first dirt road round since May 2013, turned back the clock to win two speed tests as he hunted down the Spaniard.

Loeb trailed Sordo by almost 18sec before consecutive stage victories vaulted him into second place in a Citroen C3, 7.2sec behind. It could have been even more of a fairytale comeback had it not been for an earlier overshoot.

“I didn’t see a junction because I was looking further ahead and I was too late on the brakes,” he said. “It was a very good day for me. I didn’t know what to expect but we’re here and that’s great news.”

Both drivers benefited from a low start position in the sweltering mountain speed tests above León. Those ahead ploughed a line through thick gravel to leave a cleaner and faster surface to exploit.

Nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb staged a remarkable return to end Friday’s opening leg of Rally Mexico just seconds behind leader Dani Sordo

Sordo took the lead this morning and won two tests in a Hyundai i20, but was unable to press home his advantage after surprisingly choosing to mix soft compound tyres with more favoured hard rubber this afternoon.

“I think we made a small mistake with the tyres. We were struggling all the time. The traction was okay but the lateral grip was nothing. We took a risk and it’s like this,” he explained.

Ott Tanak drove around overheating problems in his Toyota Yaris to hold third, 3.8sec behind Loeb. The Estonian held a 14.0sec advantage over Kris Meeke’s C3, the Ulsterman dropping back with two spins after leading this morning.

Sébastien Ogier limited his losses from second in the start order in fifth place, despite a spin. The Ford Fiesta driver edged ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen, the Norwegian at a loss to explain his lack of pace.

It was a nightmare for championship leader and road opener Thierry Neuville. He fared worst in the conditions and lost more than 20sec with a fuel pressure problem in his i20. A power steering issue cost more time and he ended seventh, over two minutes off the lead.

High temperatures and arduous conditions made it a day of attrition. Elfyn Evans rolled out of third and will not restart tomorrow as co-driver Dan Barritt has a concussion. Team-mate Teemu Suninen retired after hitting a barrier in his Fiesta.

Toyota’s Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi struggled with overheating initially. Worse followed when Lappi crashed out and his fellow Finn stopped with alternator problems.

Saturday brings another tough day containing 140.35km of action. Two identical loops of three gravel tests north and east of León are punctuated by three asphalt sprint stages.

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