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Rally Mexico stage summaries with Stéphane Prévot
27 February 2008
Source: Subaru World Rally Team
SS1/SS4 Alfaro (22.96km)
Like most of the stages this year, Alfaro is the same route as was used last year, although it’s very slightly shorter. We also used this stage back on the inaugural Rally Mexico in 2004, so everyone will know it pretty well. It’s quite a long stage, but not too tricky, and the road condition was good in the stages.
SS2/SS5 Ortega (23.83km)
Similarly most of this stage is familiar from last year, although the last 3.3 kilometres are new. It’s still the highest stage of the rally, peaking at just under 2750 metres above sea level. It starts very fast for about 18km with lots of long crests as we wind across the top of the mountains. There are some big dips and jumps too and one river crossing until we turn right at a narrow junction. After this point it is downhill all the way to the finish which can be hard on the brakes. Although there are some flowing corners, there are lots of calverts on the side and you’ve got to be very careful.
SS3/SS6 El Cubilete (18.87km)
The first section of this stage is the same as last year, but the last 5.76 kilometres are new. It’s possibly the fastest stage of the event with almost all fifth and sixth gear corners. This and Ortega are the only stages to be significantly changed this year. There’s a good landmark in this one as we pass in front of the famous angel monument in the town of Cubilete.
SS7 / SS8 / SS15 / SS16 / SS20 Nextel Superspecial (2.21km)
This typical spectator Superspecial was new for 2006 and has remained the same since, run on a motor racing circuit on the outskirts of Leon. There are lots of big jumps and water splashes which is exactly what the spectators want.
SS9 / SS12 Ibarrilla (29.90km)
We start the second leg of the rally with a 30km stage that loops round from Ibarrilla to Mesa de Reyes, just to the north of Leon. It’s another high-altitude stage at 2600 metres above sea level and the thin air makes it tough on everyone’s engines.
SS10 / SS13 Duarte (23.27km)
This is possibly the most twisting stage of the rally, because almost all of the corners are 90-degrees. After 5km the road opens out across a mountain, but it’s still twisty and technical all the way to the finish. There are a couple of steep climbs in there which peak at just below 2500 metres, making them hard pulls for the engine. It’s very rocky and there’s no room to make a mistake, especially because the road is so narrow.
SS11 / SS14 Derramadero (23.28km)
Just to the west of Duarte this stage is particularly quick. It starts on a road which has a hard rocky base and we run flat-out for 15km before turning left onto a medium-fast road with lots of big drainage ditches that run along the side. It’s very dry at the moment so this currently isn’t a problem. There are also many jumps and dips over which you have to be very careful at speed.
SS17 Leon (16.09km)
Starting the final day of the event, this is exactly the same stage as used last year. We start at about 1900 metres and climb steadily throughout the stage to finish at just below 2600 metres above sea level. You have to be smooth and flowing all the way to carry maximum speed and help the engine pull you along the climbs.
SS18 Guanajuatito (22.30km)
This stage sort of follows on from Leon (SS17) as it brings us down the other side of the mountain. It’s mainly twisty and technical. The start is on a piece of road halfway through Ibarrilla (SS9/12) but soon joins a different track that takes us further north. Because the route is so compact here, we finish at another junction with the road used on Ibarrila (SS9/12).
SS19 Comanjilla (17.88km)
The last full stage of the rally is also exactly the same as last year. The last full run before we tackle the final running of the Superspecial, it’s a very difficult stage. It starts uphill and soon becomes more flowing. After 5km we join the road used in SS11/14, Derramadero, with its deep drainage channels and high jumps. It’s not a stage you want to go into still having to push hard, as it’s easy to make a mistake right at the end of the event.
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