Marshall Clarke claimed fourth in WRC2 and eleventh overall in his first WRC outing as a co-driver for Qatari driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.

Rally Mexico was the pair’s first competitive event as a partnership and they faced a difficult rally that saw many of the leading contenders hit trouble on the tricky dusty gravel stages. They made a steady start in their Ford Fiesta RRC, holding sixth spot after the opening day’s two short stages.

The rally started in earnest on Friday and the pair maintained their sixth position, with driver Kuwari admitting he felt rusty having not tackled a WRC event for eight months. A good time on stage five elevated them to fifth place ahead of Stefan Lefebvre, the Citroen driver who pipped Alastair Fisher to the WRC3 title last season, and they held on to that spot throughout day two.

As day two progressed the pair upped their pace and they moved up a position when early WRC2 leader Protosov suffered engine trouble. A third fastest time on stage 16 was immediately followed by a second fastest time on the next test as they closed to within ten seconds of Finnish driver Ketomaa by the end of the day.

Heading into the final’s day’s stages they were looking to clinch the final podium position. Although there were only three stages, the first of the day was a gruelling 55 kilometre test and rival Ketomaa posted a time over 20 seconds quicker to all but secure third position, with Marshall and Al-Kuwari holding on to fourth place in the final standings.

Following rally Mexico, the pair have travelled on to Kuwait, where they will contest the second round of the Kuwaiti Rally Championship.

Marshall Clarke claimed fourth in WRC2 and eleventh overall in his first WRC outing as a co-driver for Qatari driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.

Rally Mexico was the pair’s first competitive event as a partnership and they faced a difficult rally that saw many of the leading contenders hit trouble on the tricky dusty gravel stages. They made a steady start in their Ford Fiesta RRC, holding sixth spot after the opening day’s two short stages.

The rally started in earnest on Friday and the pair maintained their sixth position, with driver Kuwari admitting he felt rusty having not tackled a WRC event for eight months. A good time on stage five elevated them to fifth place ahead of Stefan Lefebvre, the Citroen driver who pipped Alastair Fisher to the WRC3 title last season, and they held on to that spot throughout day two.

As day two progressed the pair upped their pace and they moved up a position when early WRC2 leader Protosov suffered engine trouble. A third fastest time on stage 16 was immediately followed by a second fastest time on the next test as they closed to within ten seconds of Finnish driver Ketomaa by the end of the day.

Heading into the final’s day’s stages they were looking to clinch the final podium position. Although there were only three stages, the first of the day was a gruelling 55 kilometre test and rival Ketomaa posted a time over 20 seconds quicker to all but secure third position, with Marshall and Al-Kuwari holding on to fourth place in the final standings.

Following rally Mexico, the pair have travelled on to Kuwait, where they will contest the second round of the Kuwaiti Rally Championship.