LEON, Mexico (AFP) — France's Sebastien Loeb reignited his push for a fifth successive world title when he cruised to a comfortable victory in the Rally of Mexico on Sunday.
The French Citroen driver, who won the opening leg in Monte Carlo before crashing out in the second round in Sweden, had led since Saturday morning and finished 1min 06sec ahead of Australian Subaru Impreza driver Chris Atkinson.
Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala, in a Ford Focus, who had led on Friday before losing valuable time with a damaged turbo on Saturday, was third 1min 39secs off the pace.
Sunday's win was 34-year-old Loeb's 38th triumph, a record for the championship.
It also moved him to within one point of Finnish Ford Focus driver Mikko Hirvonen who still leads the championship after finishing fourth on Sunday.
Loeb's victory, his third in a row here, was helped by one of the day's stages being cancelled due to security fears stemming from the number of spectators on the course.
"There is always a bit more pressure when you are some points behind," said Loeb who rolled out spectacularly in Sweden last month.
"But I always expected do a good job here in Mexico.
"This rally has not been so easy and I had a big battle with Jari-Matti, but we got the result we came for finally, so I'm happy about that. Latvala and the Ford have been very strong though.
"I remember last year we were a bit faster here than the Ford, but now we are very similar, so I hope we will not be behind on the future gravel rallies."
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