WRC: Tougher Rally Mexico planned for 2016

Rally Mexico officials are looking to make next season's event even tougher than the 2015 version, which caused carnage on the opening day.

The front-running field was decimated amid challenging conditions on the central American event earlier this month, but rally director Patrick Suberville is considering revisions which could include a 50-mile stage on the route.

"Two years ago we made the decision to make this an endurance event," said Suberville. "The teams are coming a long way down here to Mexico and we want to make it worth their while with some great long stages."

At 250 miles, the 2015 rally was one of the longest on the WRC calendar and while Suberville is not necessarily looking to increase the overall distance, he does want to raise the challenge. The maximum distance between tire changes on a WRC round is 50 miles, which could help shape a stage.

"That's what we are talking about," he continued. "We are looking at ways to do a 50-mile stage and, with the roads we have here, it wouldn't be too difficult at all. We need to think about this and listen to what people are saying, there are a lot of different views on this."

Suberville's overriding goal is to fill the endurance gap left on the calendar by the departure of such classics as the Safari and Acropolis.

"We want a finish on this rally to really mean something to everybody from Sebastien Ogier to the private guys at the back," he said. "You have to earn it on these tough roads and hot conditions."

Originally on Autosport.com