Good response to Rally Mexico

Ford Focus driver Markko Martin led home a 1-2 finish for the marque on the Leon-based event, which turned out to be one of the most eventful WRC rounds in the championship's history.

The event went so well that the organisers were handed the Inmarsat Star of the Rally Award for making such a successful debut, and being the first rally to run under the FIA's revamped rules regarding tyres and event format.

Rally Mexico winner Martin said: "The rally as an event was a big success. I was surprised to see so many spectators on the stages. Everybody seemed really enthusiastic. The stages were very good and there was a bit of everything in there. It was tricky to find the right solution for the event."

Martin's view was echoed by reigning World Champion, Subaru's Petter Solberg, despite the fact that he did not have quite as good an event after his battery failed at the end of day one.

"I've really enjoyed this new event," said Solberg. "The stages were fantastic and, apart from the incident on Friday, I've really had good fun here in Mexico."

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson believes Rally Mexico has set a new standard for WRC rounds to follow. "To have all of your stages within 50km is very good, and to have this facility and atmosphere. I truly believe this is the template from which we must go forward."

The only small gripe anyone seemed to have was the high altitude at which the event was run - Rally Mexico is the highest event on the WRC calendar. Martin said: "It takes away some of the power from the engine. It sometimes felt like we were in a road car rather than a rally car. I think we need a bigger air restrictor on rallies run at this altitude."