Esapekka Lappi’s win at Rally Sweden is an extra special one for Hyundai. Find out why below.
Why Was This Win Special?
Every win in the World Rally Championship is special. However, Lappi’s win in Rally Sweden is a different kind of special. This was not only Lappi’s second event win. Rally Sweden 2024 had a special meaning for everyone in paddocks. As it marks one year since Craig Breen’s final rally. Breen finished second overall last season to Ott Tänak. Lappi claiming the win this time out was special because Hyundai were honoring Breen all weekend long. Giving this win a much deeper meaning. The team wore Breen’s famed “Breenies” all weekend long to honor the fallen star. The Brattby stage was also renamed to #42 Brattby to honor the Mayor of Brattby.
Honoring The Mayor Of Brattby
During Lappi’s podium celebration the team put a poster stating “In honour of the Mayor Of Brattby” with a picture of Breen holding up last year’s trophy beside it on the car’s windshield. This goes to show the team were indeed honoring the Irish star this past weekend. Breen has been deeply missed by the rally community since his passing in April during a pre-event test for the Croatia Rally. Since then Hyundai have continued to honor Breen every chance they’ve gotten. With the team still running a sticker on the back of the i20 Rally1 saying #ForCraig in honor of Breen. Don’t be surprised if the team honor Breen again during the Croatia Rally in April. As well as continue to honor him throughout the 2024 season.
Breen’s Presence
Craig Breen was one of the brightest and most joyful people in the paddocks. No matter what was going on he always seemed to lighten the mood and knew what to say. He was always willing to make a joke. He always had a smile on his face. Breen was one of the best to lace up a pair of driving boots to never win an event.
Adrien Fourmaux has been one of the best drivers to start the 2024 WRC season. This has been a surprise.
Fourmaux Surprises In Monte
Adrien Fourmaux kicked off the 2024 season with a top-five finish. The 2023 British Rally Champion was probably the biggest surprise of Rallye Monte-Carlo. Fourmaux showed a lot of growth during the season’s opening event. Fourmaux didn’t take home any stage wins, nor did any major drivers retire. Other than Fourmaux’s strong finishing position nothing really stood out about his run. It was a good start to the season nonetheless, and it showed what the 28-year-old is capable of.
Shining In Sweden
In Fourmaux’s second full event back at the top level he achieved his first-ever career podium. This comes as a slight surprise. A lot of people, myself included, predicted one of Fourmaux or Munster would podium this season. However, nobody realistically expected it at the second event of the season, Rally Sweden. Fourmaux sat second overall at the end of the third day. However, the French star quickly fell to third overall. As he decided to lay off and relax a bit on the third day. Taking no risks to ensure he finished on the podium. Fourmaux showed a lot of maturity on the final two days of the event. This is a completely different Fourmaux than what we saw in 2022 during his last run at the top level. It’s a nice change for one of the WRC’s better young drivers.
Heading Into Kenya
The next event on the 2024 World Rally Championship calendar is Safari Rally Kenya at the end of next month. Fourmaux holds third in the championship heading into the most difficult event on the calendar. He is expected to drop from the championship top three after the event. As a lack of experience at the event will likely hamper his hopes of remaining top three. However, Fourmaux has done nothing but shock everyone to start the season and beat all expectations.
The second round of the 2024 WRC season has come to an end. Esapekka Lappi took home his second career win at Rally Sweden.
Championship Rundown
Thierry Neuville retained the championship lead after the second round. Neuville now holds a three-point lead over Elfyn Evans heading into Safari Rally Kenya next month. Adrien Fourmaux sits third in the championship after a strong first two events of the season. Fourmaux sits 16 points behind Evans. Sebastien Ogier moves down to fourth in the championship after Rally Sweden. This isn’t a surprise as the 8-time World Rally Champion didn’t contest Rally Sweden. Ogier sits five points behind fellow countryman Fourmaux. Ott Tänak rounds out the top five in the championship. With the Estonian sitting just three points behind Ogier.
Rally Sweden Day One
Kalle Rovanperä was right back into shape on the opening stage of Rally Sweden. Rovanperä who missed Rallye Monte-Carlo took the stage win on the first days lone stage. Rovanperä set a time 1.4 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta to top the stage. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top three after the day, sitting 0.6 seconds behind Katsuta.
Rally Sweden Day Two
The second day of Rally Sweden saw drivers contest 107.9 km across seven stages. Esapekka Lappi took the event lead on the day. After both Rovanperä and Tänak crashed out. Lappi was able to take a 3.2-second lead over Takamoto Katsuta into the third day. Oliver Solberg sat third overall, a minute and 17.5 seconds behind Katsuta after the day. Lappi took home the most stage wins on the day, winning four of the seven stages.
Rally Sweden Day Three
The third and longest day of Rally Sweden saw drivers contest 124.96 km across 7 stages. Esapekka Lappi retained his lead on the day after his largest competitor Takamoto Katsuta crashed out on SS10. Lappi ended the day with a minute and 6.3-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux. Elfyn Evans sat third overall at the end of the day, 16.7 seconds behind Fourmaux. Thierry Neuville won the most stages on the day, winning three out of the seven stages.
Rally Sweden Day Four
The fourth and final day of Rally Sweden saw drivers contest 61.08 km across three stages. Esapekka Lappi held out to take home the win. Lappi ended the day with a 29.6-second lead over Elfyn Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the podium, finishing 18.3 seconds slower than Evans. Kalle Rovanperä won the most stages on the day. As the Finnish driver won two of the three stages. However, Elfyn Evans was the fastest on Super Sunday. Claiming 11 additional points on the day to up his event total to 24 points.
Lappi Wins His Second
It has been 2,394 days since Esapekka Lappi took home his first rally win. As Lappi won the 2017 running of his home event Rally Finland. Lappi came close to taking his second win nearly a year ago at Rally Mexico. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen as a power pole ended Lappi’s event early. Lappi’s win also means Hyundai has a 100% win rate this season. As Thierry Neuville took home the season-opening win at the Rallye Monte-Carlo last month.
Rough Conditions
Rally1 drivers had less-than-desirable conditions pretty much all weekend. As on the second day’s afternoon loop, heavy snow left Neuville and Evans clearing about 10 cm of snow off the road. Day three wasn’t much different. As Tänak and Rovanperä both struggled in the road-sweeping positions. Even without additional snow. There wasn’t nearly enough ice for the tire studs to work as intended. This left drivers with constantly changing conditions. In one corner they could’ve had near-perfect grip, on the next they had none. This is Rally Sweden’s largest challenge, however.
The fourth and final day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Oliver Solberg held on to claim the WRC2 class victory.
SS16, Västervik 1
Oliver Solberg kicked off the final day with a stage win. As Solberg set a time 3.9 seconds faster than Roope Korhonen to top the stage. Sami Pajari finished third fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Korhonen. Georg Linnamäe posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.8 seconds slower than Pajari. Emil Lindholm rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.4 seconds slower than Linnamäe.
SS17, Västervik 2
Sami Pajari took home the stage win on the penultimate stage of Rally Sweden. As Pajari posted a time 0.3 seconds faster than Emil Lindholm. Georg Linnamäe finished third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Lindholm. Mikko Heikklä set the fourth fastest time on the stage, one second slower than Linnamäe. Oliver Solberg rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.6 seconds slower than Heikklä.
SS18, Umeá 2
Oliver Solberg capped off his home event with a stage win. As the Swede set a time 4.7 seconds faster than Georg Linnamäe to top the stage. Roope Korhonen finished third fastest, 0.4 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Jan Solans posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Korhonen. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Solans.
Rally Sweden Final Classification
Oliver Solberg held onto the lead to end the event with a minute and 19.7-second lead over Sami Pajari. Georg Linnamäe finished third overall, 2.5 seconds behind Pajari. Roope Korhonen ended his first event of the season fourth overall, 21.7 seconds behind Linnamäe. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top five overall, finishing 37.6 seconds slower than Korhonen.
The fourth and final day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Esapekka Lappi held on to claim the win.
SS16, Västervik 1
Kalle Rovanperä kicked off the first stage of the final day with a stage win. As the reigning champion set a time 6.3 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to top the stage. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest on the stage, 7.3 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Katsuta. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.5 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS17, Västervik 2
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on the penultimate stage of Rally Sweden. As Evans posted a time 4.1 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to top the stage. Adrien Fourmaux finished fourth fastest on the stage, five seconds slower than Neuville. Kalle Rovanperä set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.3 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS18, Umeá 2
Kalle Rovanperä took home the final stage win of the weekend. As the 2022 winner set a time 0.1 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans on the stage. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.9 seconds slower than Tänak.
Rally Sweden Final Classification
Esapekka Lappi held onto his lead despite a push from Elfyn Evans on the final day. Lappi ended the event with a 29.6-second lead over Evans. Adrien Fourmaux finished third overall, 18.3 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville ends Rally Sweden fourth overall, 58.4 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Oliver Solberg rounds out the top five at the event, three minutes and 17.9 seconds behind Neuville.
The third day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Oliver Solberg held on to his lead after the days seven stages.
SS9, Vännäs 1
Oliver Solberg kicked off the penultimate day of Rally Sweden with yet another stage win. As Solberg set a time 1.7 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top the stage. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 6.1 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS10, Sarsjöliden 1
Mikko Heikklä claimed the stage win on the second stage of the day. Posting a time 1.1 seconds faster than Roope Korhonen. Oliver Solberg finished third fastest on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Korhonen.
SS11, Bygdsiljum 1
Oliver Solberg was back to his winning ways on the final stage of the morning loop. As Solberg posted a time 2.9 seconds faster than Jan Solans to top the eleventh stage of Rally Sweden. Roope Korhonen rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 0.7 seconds slower than Solans.
SS12, Vännas 2
Sami Pajari took his first stage win of the day on the first stage of the afternoon loop. As Pajari set a time 4.7 seconds faster than Roope Korhonen to top the stage. Georg Linnamäe finished third fastest on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Korhonen.
SS13, Sarsjöliden 2
Jan Solans took his first stage win of the season on the thirteenth stage of Rally Sweden. Posting a time 0.5 seconds faster than class leader Oliver Solberg. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Solberg.
SS14, Bygdsiljum 2
Georg Linnamäe took the stage win on the penultimate stage of the penultimate day. With Linnamäe setting a time 3.1 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top the stage. Oliver Solberg finished third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS15, Umeá 1
Oliver Solberg took home the stage win on the final stage of the third day of Rally Sweden. As the Swede set a time 11.6 seconds faster than Georg Linnamäe to top the stage. Sami Pajari rounded out the top three on the stage, finishing 5.7 seconds slower than Linnamäe.
Overall After Rally Sweden Day Three
Oliver Solberg leads his home event heading into the final day. Solberg holds a minute and 14 second lead over Sami Pajari who sits second. Georg Linnamäe sits third overall, 0.2 seconds behind Pajari. Roope Korhonen ended the day fourth overall, 19.8 seconds out of a podium position. Mikko Heikklä rounds out the top five, as Heikklä sits 16.1 seconds behind Korhonen.
The third day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Esapekka Lappi held on to his lead after the days seven stages.
SS9, Vännäs 1
Ott Tänak kicked off the penultimate day with a stage win. As the 2023 Rally Sweden winner posted a time 0.3 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to top the stage. Kalle Rovanperä finished third fastest on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Evans. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Esapekka Lappi rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.3 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS10, Sarsjöliden 1
Kalle Rovanperä claimed the stage win on the second stage of the day. Setting a time 2.8 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to top the stage. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest on the stage, one second slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux posted the fourth fastest time, 0.4 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing two seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS11, Bygdsiljum 1
Adrien Fourmaux took home his first stage win of the season on the eleventh stage of Rally Sweden. As Fourmaux posted a time 1.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to top the stage. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest, 3.3 seconds slower than Neuville. Kalle Rovanperä posted the fourth fastest time, 0.4 seconds slower than Evans. Esapekka Lappi rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS12, Vännas 2
Elfyn Evans claimed the first stage win of the afternoon loop. As Evans set a time 1.5 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmaux. Esapekka Lappi finished third fastest on the stage, 7.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Kalle Rovanperä posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Lappi. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS13, Sarsjöliden 2
Thierry Neuville joined in on the stage wins on the third day of Rally Sweden. As he claimed his first stage win of the day by posting a time 0.2 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans on the stage. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Evans. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.9 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.5 seconds slower than Lappi.
SS14, Bygdsiljum 2
Thierry Neuville also took the stage win on the penultimate stage of the penultimate day. As he set a time one second faster than Elfyn Evans on the stage. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Evans. Kalle Rovanperä posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, 5.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS15, Umeá 1
Thierry Neuville capped off the third day of Rally Sweden with another stage win. As Neuville posted a time 0.9 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to win his third consecutive stage. Kalle Rovanperä finished third fastest on the stage, one second slower than Tänak. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.3 seconds slower than Lappi.
Overall After Rally Sweden Day Three
Esapekka Lappi held onto his lead over the course of the third day. Lappi now holds a minute and 6.3-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux who sits second. Elfyn Evans heads into the final day third overall, 16.7 seconds behind Fourmaux. Thierry Neuville sits fourth, 59.1 seconds behind Evans. Oliver Solberg rounds out the top five, ending the day a minute and 39 seconds behind Neuville. Evans and Fourmaux will battle for second overall on the final day’s three stages. Other than that nothing should really change unless somebody retires.
Katsuta Out
Takamoto Katsuta’s chances of winning his first event came to an end early into the third day. As Katsuta crashed out and got his car stuck on a snowbank on SS10. Katsuta sat just 0.9 seconds behind leader Esapekka Lappi heading into stage 10. It’s a disappointing finish for Katsuta who had looked good up until that point.
The second day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Oliver Solberg retained his lead after the second day of the event.
SS2, #42 Brattby 1
Oliver Solberg kicked off the second day with a stage win. Posting a time 2.1 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top the stage. Georg Linnamäe finished third fastest on the stage, 4.4 seconds slower than Pajari. Emil Lindholm set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.7 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Lauri Joona rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Lindholm.
SS3, Norrby 1
Oliver Solberg also took home the stage win on the third stage of Rally Sweden. As Solberg set a time 0.8 Georg Linnamäe. Roope Korhonen finished third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Sami Pajari posted the fourth fastest time, 3.6 seconds slower than Korhonen. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.3 seconds slower than Korhonen.
SS4, Floda 1
Oliver Solberg claimed the stage win on the fourth stage to sweep the morning loop. Solberg posted a time 8.8 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to top the stage. Georg Linnamäe finished third fastest on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Pajari. Roope Korhonen set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Mikko Heikklä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing one second slower than Korhonen.
SS5, #42 Brattby 2
Georg Linnamäe took home the stage win on the fifth stage of Rally Sweden. Linnamäe set a time 2.4 seconds faster than Oliver Solberg to claim the stage victory. Mikko Heikklä finished third fastest on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Solberg. Lauri Joona posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Heikklä. Fabrizio Zaldivar rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Joona.
SS6, Norrby 2
Georg Linnamäe also took the stage win on the second stage of the afternoon. Posting a time 5.2 Fabrizio Zaldivar to win his second stage of the weekend. Roope Korhonen finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Zaldivar. Oliver Solberg set the fourth fastest time on the stage. 0.5 seconds slower than Korhonen. Sami Pajari and Lauri Joona tied for fifth fastest on the stage. With both drivers finishing 1.9 seconds slower than Solberg.
SS7, Floda 2
Oliver Solberg was back to his winning ways on the penultimate stage of Rally Sweden day two. As Solberg set a time 6.1 seconds faster than Mikko Heikklä. Sami Pajari finished third fastest on the stage, 2.5 slower than Heikklä. Roope Korhonen posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Heikklä. Georg Linnamäe rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.7 seconds slower than Korhonen.
SS8, Umeá Sprint 2
Oliver Solberg capped off the day with a stage win. Posting a time 3.9 seconds faster than Georg Linnamäe to top the final stage of the day. Emil Lindholm finished third fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Roope Korhonen set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Lindholm. Hikaru Kogure rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Korhonen.
Overall After Rally Sweden Day Two
Oliver Solberg held onto his event lead after the first full day of stages. Solberg now holds a 29.4-second lead over Georg Linnamäe heading into the penultimate day. Sami Pajari sits third overall, 15.7 seconds behind Linnamäe. Roope Korhonen ended the day in fourth, 2.8 seconds slower than Pajari. Mikko Heikklä rounds out the top five in class at the end of the day. Sitting 10.4 seconds behind Korhonen.
The second day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Esapekka Lappi took the lead after the most chaotic day ever.
SS2, #42 Brattby 1
Kalle Rovanperä kicked off the second day with a stage win. Posting a time 3.2 seconds faster than Esapekka Lappi and Ott Tänak who tied for second fastest. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Lappi and Tänak. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time, 2.6 seconds slower than Katsuta. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.1 seconds slower than Evans.
SS3, Norrby 1
Esapekka Lappi claimed his first stage win of the season on the third stage of Rally Sweden. With the Finnish driver setting a time 1.2 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä to top the stage. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Ott Tänak posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 6.8 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS4, Floda 1
Takamoto Katsuta took home his first stage win on SS4. Posting a time 0.7 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to claim the stage win. Adrien Fourmaux finished third fastest on the stage, 2.5 seconds slower than Evans. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 7.3 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 9.9 seconds slower than Lappi.
SS5, #42 Brattby 2
WRC2 driver Georg Linnamäe took home his first career stage win on the fifth stage of Rally Sweden. No, you didn’t read that wrong, a WRC2 driver legitimately won the stage, but hold on it gets crazier. Linnamäe set a time 2.4 seconds faster than fellow WRC2 driver Oliver Solberg to claim the stage victory. WRC2 driver Mikko Heikklä finished third fastest on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Solberg. WRC2 driver Lauri Joona posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Heikklä. If you guessed a WRC2 driver rounded out the top five on the stage, you’d be correct. As Fabrizio Zaldivar rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Joona. The top Rally1 driver finished sixth fastest on the stage. That driver being Esapekka Lappi who finished 1.2 seconds slower than Zaldivar.
SS6, Norrby 2
Esapekka Lappi topped the sixth stage of the weekend. Posting a time 2.6 seconds faster than WRC2 driver Georg Linnamäe. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Linnamäe. WRC2 driver Fabrizio Zaldivar set the fourth fastest time, 2.8 seconds slower than Katsuta. WRC2 driver Roope Korhonen rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Zaldivar.
SS7, Floda 2
Esapekka Lappi claimed his third stage win on the day with a win on the penultimate stage of Rally Sweden day two. As Lappi set a time 2.1 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta to top the stage. Oliver Solberg finished third fastest on the stage, 10.3 seconds slower than Katsuta. Mikko Heikklä posted the fourth fastest time, 6.1 seconds slower than Solberg. Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.5 seconds slower than Heikklä.
SS8, Umeá Sprint 2
Esapekka Lappi capped the day off with a stage win. Posting a time 1.4 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta on the days final stage. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, 1.8 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
Overall After Rally Sweden Day Two
Esapekka Lappi leads Rally Sweden after the first full day of stages. Lappi holds a 3.2-second lead over Takamoto Katsuta heading into the penultimate day. Oliver Solberg sits third overall, a minute and 17.5 seconds behind Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux ends the day fourth overall, 5.6 seconds behind Solberg. While Elfyn Evans rounds out the top five overall, sitting 23.7 seconds behind Fourmaux.
Tough Conditions
If you’re wondering how on earth five WRC2 cars finished a stage faster than Rally1 cars, well the answer is simple. On the afternoon loop conditions were less than desirable for the Rally1 drivers. With Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville having to sweep a reported 10 cm of snow. This put the Rally1 drivers at a huge disadvantage. WRC2 drivers got optimal road conditions which paired with their lower overall speed gave them an advantage. This advantage was big enough for them to finish with top five times on all but one of the afternoon stages.
Tänak And Rovanperä Retire
Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä were the first Rally1 drivers to retire from Rally Sweden. Tänak crashed into a snowbank. He tried to continue on but had to stop due to the engine overheating. Kalle Rovanperä also went off the road, which forced him to retire from the day. Both drivers will be back for day three. Nevertheless, this is still a massive blow for the two. As both were considered favorites to win the event.
The first day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Oliver Solberg leads the WRC2 class after the days lone stage.
Rally Sweden Shakedown
Oliver Solberg topped the shakedown stage, posting a time 0.6 seconds faster than Georg Linnamäe. Mikko Heikklä finished third fastest, 2.6 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Swede Isak Reiersen set the fourth fastest time, 0.1 seconds slower than Heikklä. 2022 WRC2 champion Emil Lindholm rounded out the top five on the shakedown stage, finishing 0.1 seconds behind Reiersen.
SSS1, Umeá Sprint 1
2023 Rally Sweden WRC2 class winner Oliver Solberg kicked off his home event with a stage win. Setting a time 3 seconds faster than WRC3 champion Roope Korhonen. Sami Pajari and Fabrizio Zaldivar tied for third fastest on the opening stage. With both drivers finishing 1.1 seconds slower than Korhonen. Georg Linnamäe posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Pajari and Zaldivar. Emil Lindholm rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Linnamäe.
Rally Sweden Day Two Breakdown
The second day of Rally Sweden will see drivers contest 107.9 km across 7 special stages. The WRC2 drivers should have some of the best conditions on the road. Especially the ones first on the road. As this year the snow and ice isn’t as good as normal. Making conditions less than desirable. However, by the time the WRC2 cars start to run, they should have some pretty good roads. Nikolay Gryazin is first on the road. Jan Solans is the second driver on the road, while Oliver Solberg is third on the road. These should all be optional positions for road conditions. However, rally is anything but predictable. Meaning all the WRC2 drivers could have bad conditions. It all depends on how hard the Rally1 drivers attack the stages.