Citroen team boss reflects on his Mexican 1-2-3

Citroen Racing team principal Olivier Quesnel has paid tribute to the three C4 World Rally Car crews who today secured the first ever 1-2-3 result on a WRC gravel rally for a French manufacturer.

Victory in Rally Mexico for defending champions Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena puts them in the lead in the Drivers World Championship. While Sebastien Ogier and Petter Solberg drove their C4 World Rally Cars to second and third place.

"All of them did a good job, but I will make special mention of Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena - they did a fantastic job on the second day and that’s where they consolidated this mind-boggling victory," said Quesnel.

“The C4 WRCs have dominated this rally as they set all the quickest times. They also scored the first triple by a French manufacturer in a gravel rally. I’d also like to congratulate Petter Solberg and Sebastien Ogier for their great duel in the best possible sporting tradition," he added.

Asked whether he was surprised at the absence of a strong challenge from the rival Ford team in Mexico, Quesnel said: "I do not feel surprised. I am not sure what happened to the Fords. Maybe it was the engine and the altitude. We were confident here anyway, because we have won the last three rallies in Mexico. Saying that, I was surprised they were so far behind."