Last updated 10:17, Friday, 07 March 2008

BP FORD Abu Dhabi World Rally Team increased its advantage at the head of the FIA World Rally Championship after a strong double points haul in Mexico last weekend.

The team, chasing its third consecutive manufacturers' world title, is 12 points clear after Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikka Anttila finished third in Rally Mexico and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen claimed fourth.

Hirvonen retains the lead in the drivers' standings after this third round of the 15-rally series, the 27-year-old Finn ahead by one point.

Latvala lies third five points behind his team-mate with defending champion Sébastien Loeb in between them.

This opening gravel event of the season proved a tough challenge and few escaped problems over the three days and 331.45km of competition in the mountains of central Mexico, near León.

The high altitude speed tests, which climbed to more than 2,700m, meant engines lost about 25 per cent of their normal power in the thinner air while the rocky tracks proved a constant hazard for the unwary.

Latvala, who led after Friday's opening action, started the final day in third after a turbo pipe problem the previous afternoon.

With no pressure from behind and no chance of making progress up the leaderboard, the 22-year-old paced himself through the final three special stages - the second test was cancelled for safety reasons due to the volume of spectators - to secure a podium finish.

He said: "It's an important result for me and it's a good result for the team and our championship challenge.

"I achieved my goal of being on the podium and it's just a shame we had a problem when fighting for the lead.”

Hirvonen began the final day in fifth after losing time through punctures on Friday and Saturday combined with being first in the start order and sweeping the roads clean of loose stones on the opening day.

He was within striking distance of fourth and fastest time on the penultimate test moved him just ahead of Henning Solberg. He consolidated fourth on the final stage when the Norwegian struck trouble.

Hirvonen said: "I tried to catch Henning but when stage 18 was cancelled, I decided I didn't have enough kilometres left in which to do it.

"I was lucky he had a problem and I'm glad to finish fourth and take good points after a difficult weekend. It just wasn't my rally unfortunately.”

Team director Malcolm Wilson said: "After what we encountered, we've come away with a great result which increases our lead in the championship.

And for Mikko to still lead the drivers' standings after his problems is more than we thought we would achieve on Friday night.”

The championship remains in the Americas for round four when Villa Carlos Paz hosts the all-gravel Rally Argentina on March 27-30.

Mexico top 10 - 1, S Loeb/D Elena, Citroen C4, three hours 33 minutes 29.9 seconds; 2, C Atkinson/S Prévot, Subaru Impreza, 3.34.36.0; 3, J-M Latvala/M Anttila, Ford Focus RS, 3.35.09.6; 4, M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen, Ford Focus RS, 3.37.08.6; 5, H Solberg/C Menkerud, Ford Focus RS, 3.38.27.8; 6, M Wilson/S Martin, Ford Focus RS, 3.39.58.8; 7, F Villagra/J Perez Companc, Ford Focus RS, 3.52.32.9; 8, R Trivino/C Salom, Peugeot 206, 3.54.47.2; 9, S Ogier/J Ingrassia, Citroen C2, 3,58.54.8; 10, J Mölder/F Miclotte, Suzuki Swift, 4.00.26.7.

Championship - Drivers: 1, Hirvonen, 21 points; 2, Loeb, 20; 3, Latvala, 16; 4, Atkinson, 14; 5, Galli, 9; 6, P Solberg, 9. Manufacturers: 1, BP Ford Abu Dhabi, 37 points; 2, Citroen Total, 25; 3, Subaru, 25; 4, Stobart VK M-Sport, 19pts; 5, Munchi's Ford, 6; 6, Suzuki, 5.