The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos

It's a tradition that the winner of Rally Mexico is awarded a special pair of locally made cowboy boots. After recording a record seventh win on the gruelling gravel rally, World Rally Championship legend Sebastien Ogier could probably set up a shoe shop. "I still keep the boots," smiled the Frenchman of his latest victory. "I'm pretty reluctant to throw away things. I always think maybe one day I will make a small museum. It's a nice feeling to wear them again."

Mexico is a special place for the eight-time world champion. It's where the journey to becoming a global rallying superstar began, thanks to a maiden Junior WRC win in 2008, the season his life changed after winning the coveted title. Since that breakthrough, six wins on Mexican soil had followed in rallying's top flight, with Volkswagen (2013-2015), M-Sport Ford (2018), Citroen (2019) and Toyota (2020). So when Mexico rejoined the calendar this year for the first time since 2020 after a COVID-19 lay off, it seemed inevitable that Ogier would add this event to his partial WRC programme with Toyota.