Corona Rally Mexico review

Sebastien Loeb proved he's still the big enchilada in WRC after snatching victory in the Corona Rally México. A smoking challenge from Ford's young gun Jari-Matti Latvala made sure the Frenchman was harried in the first couple of days, but once again Loeb's Citroen C4 triumphed. Meanwhile, Aussies everywhere will be celebrating with Chris Atkinson after the young Subaru driver clocked up his best ever result with a superb second, beating the hard-charging Latvala into third.

Ford's main guy Mikko Hirvonen was quoted as saying he was "annoyed" at the newly signed Latvala's pace – as well you might when your fellow Finnish teammate is beating you at the tender age of just 22. Hirvonen, who clings onto the championship lead by a single point, was hobbled by two punctures in one stage – meaning he had to scrabble about in the dust to change wheels twice on his Focus. But his puncture curse on this dry, rocky rally was reversed when he stole fourth from a similarly stymied Henning Solberg in his Munchi's Ford.

Solberg might be seething, but British fans won't be. Matthew Wilson further built up a nation's hopes of a future British champion after equalling his best-ever finish to take sixth place in the Stobart Focus, in doing so showing composure far above that of most 21-year-olds.

But Mexico also served up a big steaming plate of bad news for the Suzuki team, who lost both cars early to engine problems. And while Citroen might be popping the odd Corona or two, it won't be for Dani Sordo. The luckless Spaniard broke the C4's suspension component on the very first stage of the rally. Doom also for Stobart Ford's Gigi Galli, who had to retire from a promising third place after damaging his rollcage in a crash on the fourth stage. Petter Solberg was also kicked down the leader board after breaking a driveshaft on his Subaru Impreza.