Lappi lit up the timing screens across the afternoon’s stages, winning three of the five tests to turn a 1.4s margin from the morning loop into a 5.3s advantage over six-time Rally Mexico winner Ogier.
Ogier managed to close to within 0.3s early in the afternoon before Lappi reeled off a string times to pull clear of the eight-time world champion, prior to a mini Ogier fightback on the last stage.
