Mexico : SS 2 - 28.87 km
After SS1, the drivers headed east for the second timed event of the day: Guanajuato. This stage is the highest of the rally, reaching a peak altitude of 2,737 metres slightly passed the halfway mark. Guanajuato is also very fast and a tough test for the cars` brakes.
Petter Solberg took his second consecutive stage victory but Mikko Hirvonen came very close in second position, the Ford driver losing only two seconds on the Norwegian.
Marcus Gronholm lost eleven seconds on his teammate to take third place, 1”4 ahead of Sebastien Loeb in fourth position.
Chris Atkinson lost around half a second per kilometre on his teammate Solberg to finish in fifth place. Manfred Stohl set the sixth quickest time at the wheel of his Peugeot 307 WRC, 6”3 faster than Matthew Wilson in seventh place.

Dani Sordo set the eighth best time in SS2, nearly a minute slower than Petter Solberg. His Kronos teammate Xavier Pons had to retire when he encountered engine problems halfway through this stage.

With his 307 handicapped by a brake problem, Henning Solberg lost 1`20”3 over his brother and had to settle for tenth position.

Petter Solberg is leading the race after two stages, 8”1 ahead of Mikko Hirvonen and 25”3 in front of Marcus Gronholm in third place. Sebastien Loeb is just 1”2 behind the Finn in fourth position.

Tags: rally,