After a truncated itinerary for Rally Sweden, it’s business as usual in México as crews prepare for 10 stages on the first day proper of the third round of the 2020 World Rally Championship season.
Here’s DirtFish’s guide to the conditions drivers can expect to face on the six tests that contribute to the 80-plus competitive Friday miles.
SS3/7 El Chocolate (19.54 miles)
The second longest stage of the rally (only Sunday’s single shot at the 20-mile Otates is longer) and this is a tricky introduction to the gravel in 2020. The first section of the stage varies in the nature of the corners and the width of the road. There’s more flow in the middle of the test – the section where Andreas Mikkelsen and Teemu Sunninen had their issues last year – but generally not the easiest of starts. The cars will generate plenty of heat through the twisty sections towards the end of the stage and with only a four-mile road section into the next test, there’s not much time to get everything cooled down in time for Ortega.
SS4/8 Ortega (10.71 miles)
Ortega’s a generally more consistent style of stage than the opener, with two or three car’s-width of road all the way through. There’s a nicer flow to this one. It will be one of the quickest of the rally and the drivers tend to find a better rhythm.
SS5/9 Minas (8.50 miles)
The start of Minas has been extended by a couple of miles and those couple of miles will be an extension of a fairly narrow and technical section. When the road finally opens out a bit in the middle it does so onto a long flat-out straight which is punctuated by a massive jump – you’ll remember Benitto Guerra going ballistic over here a few years ago. Towards the finish, the stage heads downhill, with the final section of corners on the cobbles. The tyres will be pretty much finished by this point, but having less rubber beneath you can actually help a little bit when you come off the gravel. But with the cobbles, come the kerbs…
SS6 Parque Bicentenario (1.68 miles)
This run through a park is back for the first time in six years and helps to break up the journey back to service. A nice flowing asphalt stage that shouldn’t provide too many complications. Shouldn’t…
SS10/11 Autodromo Shell V-Power (1.44 miles)
Exactly the same as last season, side-by-side stage at a circuit. The organizers will water the track as often as possible, but expect plenty of dust and drivers grumbling that their side of the track was undoubtedly the worst.
SS12 Street Stage León (0.45 miles)
The Street Stage in León is a brand new all-asphalt test for this season, and it does what it says on the tin: it’s a stage through the streets of León. Definite contender for the shortest of the season.
