Benito Guerra sealed the biggest result of his career to date today when he clinched victory in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship section of Rally Guanajuato Mexico, his first in the WRC support category.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X driver was fastest on every one of the day’s four stages - including the mammoth 54-kilometre Guanajuatito test - and ended the event more than four minutes clear of the opposition.
“This is just incredible,” said Guerra afterwards. “I have won Group N three times on this event, but never as a round of the Production Car World Rally Championship. It means so much to me to take my first ever PWRC win at home in front of my people. I am very, very happy.
“We had no problems at all today and really we have had a very good rally, leading from the second stage until the finish. It’s a fantastic start to the season.”
Second place went to multiple Peruvian champion Nicolas Fuchs, who adopted a cautious approach on the final day in the knowledge that he was 16 minutes ahead of his closest rival. Although he struggled for grip through the long stage, he otherwise enjoyed a trouble-free day.
“The car was very good,” said Fuchs. “I have to thank the team for the work they have done. The tyres were quite difficult sometimes. When they are new, they are great, very fast with good grip, but it wasn’t so easy when the heat came.
I am very pleased with the result though. I have been third here before and never managed to beat that, so to come here and take the second place is good for me.”
PWRC title leader Michal Kosciuszko restarted under Rally 2 rules on Sunday following his exit on day two with top Subaru runner Gianluca Linari fourth. Mexican wildcard entrant Rodrigo Salgado (Mitsubishi) finished fifth with Swedish lady driver Ramona Karlsson sixth after a tough start to her PWRC campaign following brake issues on the opening two days.