Intro:

World champion Sebastien Ogier was fastest over the shakedown stage at the Rally Guanajuato Mexico on Thursday (5th March), ahead of Thierry Neuville of Belgium and Great Britain's Kris Meeke.

Script:

The snow and ice of the Rally of Sweden gave way to heat, altitude and gravel as round three of the World Rally Championship got underway in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

World champion Sebastien Ogier has already claimed two wins out of two this season and will be going for a third in a row over the weekend.

The Frenchman was fastest through the 5.5 kilometre pre-event shakedown stage in a time of three minutes, 47.6 seconds.

Belgium's Thierry Neuville claimed Hyundai's first podium finish in Mexico last year and finished 2.2 seconds down on Ogier in second place.

Just three-tenths of a second behind Neuville was Britain's Kris Meeke, who needs a strong result here following a frustrating start to his campaign.

Meeke could be one of the drivers to watch this weekend, as he has a favourable road position and will have the gravel tracks 'swept' for him by earlier starters.

Fourth was Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland, who went off the road while fighting for the lead in Sweden and was forced to retire.