The WRC gallery: Rally Guanajuato Mexico

After the snow of Sweden the WRC action reached boiling point on round three when the teams crossed the Atlantic for Rally Guanajuato México.

Here is a selection of some of our favourite photographs from Mexico, courtesy of wrc.com snappers Jaanus Ree and At-World’s Andre Lavadinho.

1) WRC hits the streets
Rally Guanajuato México was based smack in the middle of León, which meant competitors shared the roads with the 1.5 million people that call the city their home. Pictured above and below, Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Østberg mingle with the local traffic en-route to the stages - and Østberg's Fiesta gets an extra polish at the traffic lights.

2) Going underground
The silver mining tunnels under Guanajuato are one of the championship's most unusual stage settings. And that's before you factor in the incredible murals that decorate many of the walls. Here's the creepy skeleton that greets drivers on one of the first right handers.

3) Dust clouds
As the first gravel event of the season, Mexico is also the first rally where the subject of road sweeping comes up. How much loose gravel is there to sweep? See below.

4) Cleared for takeoff
Here's Benito Guerra on what turned out to be his last jump of Friday's competition. The Mexican stages are littered with awkward jumps that need to be approached with care. An awkward kick can pitch the rear of the car too high and cause a nose-heavy landing. As Guerra discovered.

5) Start ceremony carnival
The carnival-like start ceremony in Guanajuato has to be seen to be believed. Thousands of spectators cram the cobbled streets to welcome the drivers before the opening stage. We're used to seeing Sébastien Ogier on the roof of his Polo celebrating victory - but never before at the start.