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.
The first day of Rally Sweden has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä leads after the days lone stage.
Rally Sweden Shakedown
Esapekka Lappi was right back into form. As the Finnish drivers topped the Rally Sweden shakedown. Lappi posted a time 0.6 seconds faster than Adrien Fourmaux. Ott Tänak finished third fastest, 0.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä set the fourth fastest time, 0.5 seconds slower than Tänak. Championship leader Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the shakedown, finishing 1.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SSS1, Umeá Sprint 1
Kalle Rovanperä was right back to his winning ways on the Rally Sweden opener. As Rovanperä set a time 1.4 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta to top the SuperSpecial stage. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest, 0.6 seconds slower than Katsuta. Ott Tänak and Adrien Fourmaux tied for fourth fastest on the stage. With both drivers posting a time 0.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux, despite some difficulties for Tänak. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Tänak and Fourmaux.
What To Expect From Rally Sweden Day Two
The second day of Rally Sweden will see drivers contest 107.9 km across 7 special stages. Drivers will look to make the most of the less-than-favorable conditions. As the snow and ice aren’t as good as usual for the event. This will have an effect on how the drivers attack the stages. It will also slightly favor the later-running cars, including Kalle Rovanperä. Thierry Neuville will have the worst conditions on the first pass as he’s on sweeping duty. Elfyn Evans is second on the road while 2023 Rally Sweden winner Ott Tänak is third. Kalle Rovanperä starts seventh on the road.
Rally Sweden is one of the most magical events on the World Rally Championship calendar, but why? Find out below.
Unique Event Conditions
Rally Sweden is the most unique event on the World Rally Championship schedule. Sure every event is unique in its own way. However, Rally Sweden is the only event to take place on full snow and ice-covered roads. This provides the drivers with a unique challenge. Snow and ice is already a difficult and different challenge. The roads themselves make it even more of a challenge. As the roads are often fast and flowing like Rally Finland. However, these roads don’t feature nearly as many jumps.
Different Challenges
Every World Rally Championship has different challenges. Monte has jagged rock faces, Finland has fast-flowing jumps, and Rally Sweden is no different. Sweden’s unique challenge comes mainly in the form of snowbanks. Snowbanks are extremely unforgiving. As it’s pretty easy to get the car beached on them. Just ask Andreas Mikkelsen, he lost an event after getting his car beached on a snowbank on the final stage some years ago. Drivers use tire studs to help with traction on the slick roads. However, at times the roads are still extremely slick. This can cause a driver to go straight into the previously mentioned snowbanks. The more experienced drivers can use the banks to their advantage. As some have used the banks to help braking when needed. However, that’s only on rare occasions as it is a massive risk.
Night Stages
Rally Sweden is also one of the only events on the calendar to feature night stages outside of the SuperSpecial. This provides drivers with yet another unique challenge. This pushes almost every driver to their limit. Some more experienced drivers find this easier, while others don’t. For some, this will be the only nighttime rallying they do in their career. While some grew up doing nighttime rallying.
Earlier this week the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team unveiled a new livery for the 2024 season.
Another One
Hyundai are changing their livery after just one event, but why? The team wants the livery used for Rallye Monte-Carlo to maintain its 100% win rate. With Hyundai team principal Cyril Abitaboul stating “Starting the 2024 season with a win at one of the most iconic events in WRC history was an incredible moment, ten years after our first-ever Rallye Monte-Carlo, and it is fitting that Thierry and Martijn’s Monte-Carlo colours are memorialised in the history books.” This isn’t the only reason Hyundai changed their livery, however, as the team was going to regardless if Neuville won Rallye Monte-Carlo.
The Other Reason Hyundai Changed Liveries
The 2024 season marks 10 years since the team re-entered the WRC. With Abitaboul stating the main reasons for the livery change were as follows “As some of our colleagues celebrate the Lunar New Year, we are also marking a fresh beginning with an all-new livery for the remainder of the FIA WRC season,” said Hyundai Motorsport president and team principal Cyril Abiteboul. “The design was created to pay tribute to our close working relationship with Hyundai N and Hyundai Motor Company and complements their celebrations of ten years in the pinnacle of rallying.”
Livery For The Rest Of The Season
Hyundai has confirmed they will use this new livery for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. Hyundai will look to add more wins this season. As the team chases not only the manufacturers’ championship but also the drivers’ championship. With Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak both being favorites alongside Elfyn Evans to win the championship this season. Andreas Mikkelsen, Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo will look to help achieve these goals in a part-time manner. However, achieving these goals won’t be easy for the Korean team.
The second round of the 2024 World Rally Championship takes place this weekend with Rally Sweden. Find out more below.
Championship Rundown
Yohan Rossel leads the WRC2 championship heading into Rally Sweden once again this season. As Rossel holds a seven-point lead over Pepe López. Both Rossel and López will not be contesting this weekend’s event. Nikolay Gryazin sits third in the championship, three points behind López and 10 behind Rossel. Nicolas Ciamin, who also won’t be attending this weekend, sits three points behind Gryazin. Stephan Lefebvre rounds out the top five in the championship sitting two points behind Ciamin. Lefebvre also won’t be attending the event this weekend.
A Stacked Entry List
Rally Sweden is the first true stacked entry list for WRC2 of 2024. As Rallye Monte-Carlo had an underwhelming amount of stars contesting for points. This time around both Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari will score points for the first time this season. After both contested Rallye Monte-Carlo but not for points. Emil Lindholm, Mikko Heikklä, William Creighton, Lauri Joona, Roope Korhonen and Gorg Linnamäe will make their season debuts. Heikklä has already won a snow event this season. Winning the Arctic Rally Lapland in Finland behind the wheel of his new Toyota Yaris GR Rally2 in preparation for Rally Sweden. Reigning WRC3 champion Roope Korhonen and Gorg Linnamäe will both also drive a Yaris Rally2. Lindholm will drive a Hyundai i20 Rally2 run by CHL Auto. While Joona will drive a Skoda Fabia.
Rally Sweden Event Rundown
Over the course of the four-day event drivers will contest 300.1 km across 18 stages. Day one will see drivers contest the events shakedown and a SuperSpecial stage to kick off the event. The second day of Rally Sweden will have drivers contest 107.9 km across seven stages. The third and longest day of the event will see drivers contest 125.96 km across seven stages. The fourth and final day of Rally Sweden sees drivers contest 61.08 km across three stages.
The second round of the 2024 World Rally Championship takes place this weekend with Rally Sweden. Find out more below.
Championship Rundown
Thierry Neuville tops the championship after winning Rallye Monte-Carlo last month. Neuville holds a six-point lead over Sebastien Ogier. However, Ogier won’t be competing at Rally Sweden. 2023 vice-champion Elfyn Evans is third in the championship, three points behind Ogier and nine behind Neuville. 2023 Rally Sweden winner Ott Tänak heads into the snowy event fourth in the championship, six points behind Evans and 15 behind Neuville. Adrien Forumaux rounds out the top five in the championship, sitting four points behind Tänak and 19 behind Neuville.
Return Of The Champ
Kalle Rovanperä will suit up for his first WRC action since Rally Japan. Rovanperä has elected to contest a part-time schedule this year. As the now two-time champion wants a bit of a break to explore other motorsport disciplines. As well as just some time off as he’s been competing in rallies since he was eight. Rovanperä contested the Arctic Rally Lapland in Finland last week. He finished second behind Elfyn Evans.
Honoring Craig Breen
The organizers of Rally Sweden have elected to honor Craig Breen in at least one way this weekend. As they have added Breen’s number 42 to the stage Breen loved, Brattby. Breen won the stage both times it ran last season on his way to finishing second behind Ott Tänak. At what would ultimately be his final event, as he passed during testing for the Croatia Rally. Whether or not anything else will be done to honor the fallen Irish star is unknown.
Rally Sweden Event Rundown
Over the course of the four-day event drivers will contest 300.1 km across 18 stages. Day one will see drivers contest the events shakedown and a SuperSpecial stage to kick off the event. The second day of Rally Sweden will have drivers contest 107.9 km across seven stages. The third and longest day of the event will see drivers contest 125.96 km across seven stages. The fourth and final day of Rally Sweden sees drivers contest 61.08 km across three stages.