Chile’s Martínez eyes up more WRC2 outings

Martínez, a 10-time national champion in his native Chile, has entered next month’s León-based third round in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. The car will be prepared by Spanish team MAPO Motorsport, which is owned by former WRC driver Xevi Pons.

Thirty-six-year-old Martínez made a one-off FIA World Rally Championship appearance at last year’s EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, where, after breaking into the WRC2 top 10, he was forced to retire.

That performance has given him an appetite for more WRC action in 2023, with the Fabia man understood to be considering some European rounds in 2023. His home event - Rally Chile Bio Bío - is also back on the calendar for the first time since 2019.

“In 2022, we finished the year wanting to do some more WRC rallies as soon as possible,” Martínez revealed. “This time, we start our season in Mexico, which will be another challenge for us - yet again starting there for the first time, like we did in Greece last year.

“Mexico is the first gravel WRC round of the year, with high mountains, hot weather and stages full of spectators. I guess it should be an exciting chance for us,” he added.

Other WRC2 entrants for Guanajuato Rally México include Gus Greensmith, Oliver Solberg, Emil Lindholm and Adrien Fourmaux.