BORIS DJORDJEVIĆ (EDMONTON, AB)AND JOHN HALL (SHERWOOD PARK, AB)World Rally Championship

One of the last major motorsports events still underway when travel restrictions began rolling out across the world, the

World Rally Championship’s Rally Guanajuato México on March 12-15, featured some familiar names for those who follow the Canadian Rally Championship.

Boris Djordjević of Edmonton, AB and co-driver John Hall of Sherwood Park, AB brought their Frontech Racing Ford Fiesta MK7.5 R2 to the event. Racing on Pirelli tires and receiving recce support from Inside Track rally photographer Jason Nugent, the duo unfortunately suffered three mechanical restarts and ultim-ately dropped out of the rally on special stage 13 due to a broken control arm.

Rally officials, the FIA and WRC Promoters reached a decision to halt the event after special stage 21. Enough stage distance had been covered to ensure that the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship was eligible for full championship points – with the exception of points for the cancelled power stage – and it gave team personnel and members of the international media addition-al time to return to their countries before any further restrictions were put in place on air travel.

Six-time WRC champion Sébastien Ogier (France) won the event, equalling rally legend and fellow Frenchman Sébastien Loeb’s record six victories at Rally Guanajuato México.

Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (France) guided their Toyota Yaris WRC to four stage wins on the way to a 27.8-second victory

over defending World Rally Champion Ott Tänak (Estonia) and co-driver Martin Järveoja (Estonia) in their Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC.

Sixth-placed Pontus Tidemand wrapped up his third victory in the FIA WRC2 category in México with a dominant performance in a Toksport Škoda Fabia Evo. The Swede erred on the side of caution over the final day and eased to victory over Mexican debutant Nicolay Gryazin by 1 minute and 57.7 seconds, the gap exacerbat-ed by a late drive shaft issue for the Russian.

Young Bolivian driver Marco Bulacia had missed out on a WRC2 category win on the event in 2019, but the talented Škoda Fabia driver dominated the newly named FIA WRC3 section, finished eighth overall and 4 minutes and 11.1 seconds in front of the Citroën C3 of Chilean runner-up Emilio Fernández. – With files from WRC

(Above) Canadians Boris Djordjević and John Hall at the 2020 Rally Mexico, won by Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier (below). Photos by Jason Nugent

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MELISSA STEVENS (THOROLD, ON)Merrittville Speedway

The Stevens family passion for stock car racing at Merrittville Speedway continues with its third generation following the

appointment of Melissa Stevens as Race Director at the Thorold, ON track. The granddaughter of the late legendary Ray Stevens and youngest daughter of the late ‘Flyin’’ Brian Stevens, Melissa brings a lifetime love of stock car racing to the Race Director position.

Melissa grew up at Merrittville and has wonderful memories of family and friends enjoying both the races and the barbecues and corn roasts in the pits afterward. Racing at Merrittville has always created a family environment.

Yes, there are intense rivalries on the track, but Melissa knows firsthand how great the friendships are in the pits and in the grand-stands. Merrittville Speedway has great drivers, great teams and the best fans anywhere.

In the past 15 years, Melissa has experienced every aspect of

dirt track racing throughout the northeast US as well as numerous tracks in Ontario and Quebec. As a crucial part of a professional race team, Melissa became very well-versed in how numerous racetracks operate. Exactly what they do right and what they do wrong. She knows what a race team and a racetrack need to do to be successful. She brings years of experience in scheduling, scor-ing, qualifying procedures, varying rules and widely differing track requirements.

As race director, she will strive to provide a fair and unbiased environment. No driver or race team will ever be favoured or above the rules. It is imperative that all rules be applied and enforced con-sistently and fairly – there can be no tolerance for favouritism.

“I’m looking forward to a great season and wish to thank Don Spiece and the management at Merrittville Speedway for the oppor-tunity to bring all my expertise and enthusiasm to a successful and exciting 69th season at Merrittville Speedway,” said Melissa.

– Story and Photo Courtesy of Merrittville Speedway IT

(Left to right) New Merrittville Speedway Race Director Melissa Stevens and Merrittville Speedway owners Don and Lorraine Speice.