The Rally of Sweden, the second round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), takes place this weekend. It is, by excellence, the only round of the calendar in true winter conditions, with a lot of snow and ice on the stages.
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) leads the championship after his maximum score victory in Monte Carlo. Among the drivers who will be in action, his main pursuer is Elfyn Evans (Toyota), who finished third in the opening round. This is because his teammate Sébastien Ogier will not be present, making way for Kalle Rovanperä.
The reigning champion makes his first appearance in his part-time program and, naturally, enters as a candidate for victory. The same can be said for other drivers, particularly Ott Tänak (Hyundai), who wants much more than the fourth place achieved in January in Monaco. This will also be the first participation of Esapekka Lappi in the third Hyundai, which he will share throughout the season with Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo.
The Rally of Sweden consists of 18 stages, totaling 300.10km of timed sections, and the base is once again in Umeå. Here are the schedules (in Continental Portugal time) and itinerary.
- Thursday, February 15th
- 18:05: SS1 Umeå Sprint 1 (5.16km)
- Friday, February 16th
- 07:58: SS2 #42 Brattby 1 (10.76km)
- 08:52: SS3 Norrby 1 (12.36km)
- 09:55: SS4 Floda 1 (28.25km)
- 13:36: SS5 #42 Brattby 2 (10.76km)
- 14:30: SS6 Norrby 2 (12.36km)
- 15:33: SS7 Floda 2 (28.25km)
- 18:05: SS8 Umeå Sprint 2 (5.16km)
- Saturday, February 17th
- 06:45: SS9 Vännäs 1 (15.65km)
- 07:35: SS10 Sarsjöliden 1 (14.23km)
- 09:08: SS11 Bygdsiljum 1 (28.06km)
- 13:15: SS9 Vännäs 1 (15.65km)
- 14:05: SS10 Sarsjöliden 1 (14.23km)
- 15h38: PEC 11 Bygdsiljum 1 (28.06km)
- 18h05: PEC 15 Umeå 1 (10.08km)
- Sunday, February 18th
- 06h27: PEC 16 Västervik 1 (25.50km)
- 09h03: PEC 17 Västervik 2 (25.50km)
- 11h15: PEC 18 Umeå 2 (10.08km)
