Esapekka Lappi and Sébastien Ogier head to the Cape after day two of Rally Mexico

Finland’s Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) dominated day two of the 2023 Rally Mexico, round three of the World Rally Championship, on Friday, winning five of the eight events contested on the dirt roads of the Guanajuato mountain range.

Over the 128 kilometers of the day, Lappi was in tight competition for zero times with France’s Sebastien Ogier (Toyota), who is 5.3 seconds ahead of him. Ogier, the luxury independent, who is chasing a seventh Rally Mexico victory in order to become the sole record holder for success in the event, has been given two specials. Before Saturday, the two are face to face.

Britain’s Elfyn Evans (Toyota) and Belgium’s Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) ambushed about thirty seconds off the lead. Finn Kali Rovanpera (Toyota), world champion, is in fifth place, almost a minute behind his compatriot. The day ended with an urban stage, a 1.3 km circuit in the city of Leon, won by Spaniard Daniel Sordo (Hyundai), sixth overall.

Estonian Ott Tanak (M-Sport Ford), the championship leader, suffered a mechanical problem on Friday morning and found himself more than 14 minutes behind Lappi. Rally Mexico consists of 23 special stages, totaling 320.23 kilometers, with a timed schedule. On Saturday, 128.61 kilometers will be covered in nine stages on the dirt roads of Guanajuato.