Mexico, Mar 14: Subaru's new Impreza is a product of the team's increased focus on the engine, electronics systems and the body shell. The auto maker's last full rally win was with Solberg in Britain at the end of 2003. Petter Solberg and Citroen driver Loeb battled throughout the day, alternately winning the four stages, although the Norwegian managed to hold onto a lead from early in the morning, when Subaru's choice of thin, open-treaded tyres gave him an advantage in muddy and damp conditions.
Loeb beat Solberg in the second stage and the fourth, which took drivers for a second time in the day 2,737 metres (8,800 feet) above sea level to the international rally series' highest roads.
Conditions had mostly dried out by midday, following an unexpected thunderstorm late on Thursday (March 11) that muddied roads for the first stage. Mexico and Japan were added to the FIA world rally championship this year, in a competition that takes drivers to 16 rallies across four continents, with an Australian finish in November.


Leading placings in the Mexico rally on Friday after the first leg: 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 1:02:53.3 2. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 5.6 secs behind 3. Marcus Gronholm (Finland) Peugeot 14.0 4. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 34.8 5. Markko Martin (Estonia) Ford 48.9 6. Harri Rovanpera (Finland) Peugeot 54.7 7. Francois Duval (Belgium) Ford 1:04.3 8. Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Subaru 1:32.2 9. Gilles Panizzi (France) Mitsubishi 2:02.9 10. Jussi Valimaki (Finland) Hyundai 3:04.3


Bureau Report