Benito Guerra Jr. facts for kids
Guerra Jr. with Javier Lozano (left), in 2005
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Mexican |
| Born | 25 March 1985 |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 2006 – 2020, 2022 |
| Co-driver |  Daniel Cué Borja Rozada |
| Teams | Ralliart, Motorsport Italia |
| Rallies | 44 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Stage wins | 0 |
| Total points | 22 |
| First rally | 2006 Rally México |
| Last rally | 2022 Rally de Portugal |
Benito Iván Guerra Latapí (born March 25, 1985) is a famous Mexican rally driver. He races special cars in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). In 2013, he competed for Citroën Racing with his co-driver Borja Rozada.
A big moment in his career was in 2012. He won the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC). This made him a World Champion. He was the first Mexican rally driver to win a world championship title.
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About Benito Guerra Jr.
Benito's father, Benito Guerra Sr., was also a racing driver. He competed in classic car races like La Carrera Panamericana. His mother, Mercedes Guerra, is an accountant. Benito also has a younger sister named Mercedes, who loves motorsports too.
Benito's Racing Journey
Starting Out: 2006 – 2010
Benito Guerra Jr. began his World Rally Championship (WRC) journey in 2006. His first race was in his home country, at the 2006 Rally México. He finished 26th in that race.
In 2007, he raced in Rally Mexico and Rally Argentina. However, he had to stop early in both due to car problems. In 2008, he finished 14th at the 2008 Rally México. He also won the Group N category there.
He became a champion in Spain in 2009, winning the Spanish Production title. In 2010, he won the Spanish gravel title. He also finished 15th overall at the 2010 Rally México. He was fourth in the PWRC category that year.
Climbing Up: 2011
Benito started 2011 by finishing 11th at Rally Mexico. He then decided to focus on the PWRC series. He earned fourth place in Portugal and Australia. He also got a third-place finish in Spain. By the end of 2011, Guerra Jr. was sixth overall in PWRC. He earned 47 WRC points.
Becoming a World Champion: 2012
The year 2012 was very special for Benito Guerra Jr. He and his co-driver Borja Rozada won three rallies: México, Argentina, and España. They also took second place in Germany.
These great results helped them win the PWRC world championship! They scored 109 points, beating the Argentinian team. Benito Guerra Jr. became the first Mexican rally driver to win a World Championship. He was only the second Mexican to win a world title in motorsport. The first was Pedro Rodríguez in 1970 and 1971.
Race of Champions 2012
Because he won the PWRC in 2012, Benito Guerra Jr. was invited to the 2012 Race of Champions. This special event brings together top drivers from different racing types. It took place in Bangkok. Benito raced alongside legends like Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Benito was part of Team Americas with Ryan Hunter-Reay. He said he was "very excited to compete with all of these great drivers." In the Nations Cup race, Benito beat Jorge Lorenzo and Sébastien Ogier. However, his team was eliminated early. In the main Champion of Champions event, Benito was eliminated in the first round. The winner of the 2012 Race of Champions was Romain Grosjean.
New Challenges: 2013
In 2013, Benito Guerra Jr. joined Citroën Racing. This was a private team in the WRC. He started racing with them at the Rally Mexico.
Even though it was his first race in the WRC as a rookie, he did very well. He finished 8th overall, getting his first four points for the championship.
Winning Again: 2019
Benito Guerra Jr. returned to the Race of Champions in 2019. This time, the event was held in Mexico City. Benito had an amazing performance. He defeated many famous drivers, including Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly. In the final, he beat French driver Loïc Duval to win the event!
Images for kids
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Benito Guerra Jr. with Javier Lozano in 2005.
