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- Round 2 of the World Rally Championship 2022 takes place this weekend in Sweden.
- The event is back after a gap year due to the Covid-19 outbreak and global lockdowns.
- Ford M-Sport team is looking to follow its Rally Monte-Carlo win with another gold finish.
- For motoring news, go to Wheels24
After a year's absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a new-look Rally Sweden returns this weekend, and it offers near-perfect conditions for the World Rally Championship's only pure winter fixture as ice and snow-covered roads weave through the picture-postcard countryside.
Remote and frozen forests in northern Sweden will provide an intimidating challenge as the FIA World Rally Championship enters uncharted territory this week for the second chapter of its exciting new hybrid era. Never before has Rally Sweden (February 24 - 27) journeyed so close to the Arctic Circle. With temperatures plunging to a bone-chilling -20°C in the host city of Umeå this week, the speed tests in the Västerbotten region will test competitors to the full.
When in doubt, flat out
This weekend, drivers will approach Rally Sweden with the 'Colin McRae' ethos so that you can expect pedal to the metal action. Winter rallying demands a unique approach. Drivers' lean' their cars against snowbanks to guide them around the corners, while studded tyres bite into the ice to provide remarkable grip and ensure that, paradoxically, this will be one of the year's fastest encounters.
Nordic drivers traditionally dominate in Sweden, but their grip is loosening, according to WRC insiders and Flying Finn Kalle Rovanperä, who heads the entry in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, is taking nothing for granted: "We start first on the road and will have some road cleaning to do there on the first day."
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"In testing, we were starting from zero with the snow set-up for the new car, and it felt a bit tricky to drive in the beginning. But, together with our teammates, I think we have made some good steps in the right direction during the two tests," he says.
Among those teammates are Britain's Elfyn Evans, who won Sweden's last WRC event two years ago and is desperate to bounce back from a disappointing season-opener at Rallye Monte-Carlo. The silver lining is a favourable start position for the first day.
A strong line-up of drivers
Esapekka Lappi returns to Toyota's line-up for the first time since leaving the Japanese manufacturer at the end of 2018, while Japan's Takamoto Katsuta drives another GR Yaris for Toyota's second-string Next Generation squad.
M-Sport Ford was the fastest out of the blocks with the new-generation cars to win in Monte-Carlo, and Craig Breen heads the British squad in a Puma Rally1. The Irishman is on a solid run of four consecutive podium finishes. Breen is joined by Gus Greensmith, fresh from his maiden stage victory in Monte-Carlo, and Adrien Fourmaux, who will be focused on a solid drive after a massive crash in the French Alps.
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Thierry Neuville leads Hyundai Motorsport's squad in an i20 N Rally1. The Belgian was Hyundai's best performer at a problematic opening round for the Korean manufacturer and is again joined by Ott Tänak and Oliver Solberg, competing in his home event.
Umeå hosts the ceremonial start this evening. Crews then tackle 17 stages covering 264.81km before Sunday afternoon's finish.
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