Kris Meeke nearly threw away victory in Mexico on Sunday as he found himself racing around his own private stage in a spectator car park, but the lead he'd built up over the previous few days was good enough to secure the win – his first of the season.
Meeke dominated the event, leading all four days and building up a healthy 30+ second lead as it came down to the final stage in Mexico. However the Briton didn't make it easy for himself as he ran wide at a long left-hander and crashed through a hedge, narrowly avoided a parked car and then found himself lost in a car park.
Meeke drifted his way through parked cars and managed to find an opening, taking him back onto the stage, but not without a puncture. Thanfully it all happened just a kilometre from the finish line and limped back, winning the event by 13.8s to Sébastien Ogier.
Video: Watch Kris Meeke take a detour through a spectator car park
It handed Citroën their first win of the season too and elevated Meeke to sixth in the standings.
Ogier, in his Ford Fiesta, still leads the championship by 8 points from Jari-Matti Latvala, with ten rounds remaining.
Thierry Neuville finished third in his Hyundai i20 Coupe, 45.9s behind Ogier, which will be welcome news for the Frenchman after coming so close to victory in the opening two rounds, before crashing out in both. Neuville also won the final live TV Power Stage to claim five bonus points.
Ford's Ott Tänak was fourth overall with Hayden Paddon completing the top five for Hyundai.
Rally Mexico Top 10:
| Position | Driver | Team | Gap |
| 1 | K. Meeke | Citroen | |
| 2 | S. Ogier | M-Sport | +13.8 |
| 3 | T. Neuville | Hyundai | +59.7 |
| 4 | O. Tanak | M-Sport | +2:18.3 |
| 5 | H. Paddon | Hyundai | +3:32.9 |
| 6 | J. Latvala | Toyota | +4:40.3 |
| 7 | J. Hanninen | Toyota | +5:06.2 |
| 8 | D. Sordo | Hyundai | +5:22.7 |
| 9 | E. Evans | M-Sport | +8:41.8 |
| 10 | P. Tidemand | Skoda | +10:51.9 |
