The 2025 World Rally Championship is off to a thrilling start, and now it’s time for the only full-snow rally of the season—Rally Sweden. As the WRC heads to Umeå, fans can expect high-speed action, unpredictable conditions, and a packed entry list that promises an intense battle across all categories.
Here’s everything you need to know before the second round of the WRC season kicks off.
Rally Sweden 2025 Entry List: Who’s Competing?
A healthy field of 61 crews is set to take on Sweden’s snow-covered roads:
🏁 11 Rally1 cars (top-tier WRC machinery)
🏁 26 Rally2 cars (20 of which compete in WRC2)
🏁 23 Rally3 cars (including 12 in Junior WRC)
Rally1: Toyota, M-Sport, and Hyundai Face Off in the Snow
- Toyota Gazoo Racing originally planned to field five cars, but Lorenzo Bertelli has withdrawn due to work commitments. That leaves:
- Elfyn Evans (first on the road)
- Kalle Rovanperä
- Takamoto Katsuta (registered for manufacturer points for the first time this season)
- Sami Pajari (driving an additional Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 entered by Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2)
- M-Sport Forddoubles its lineup compared to Monte Carlo, bringing four Pumas:
- Grégoire Munster
- Josh McErlean
- Mārtiņš Sesks (making his 2025 WRC debut, with a seven-round program expected)
- Jourdan Serderidis (in a fourth Ford Puma Rally1)
- Hyundai sticks with its Monte Carlo lineup, but with car upgrades:
- Thierry Neuville
- Ott Tänak
- Adrien Fourmaux
🔎 Will Hyundai’s updated i20 finally give them the edge over Toyota and M-Sport?
WRC2: Can Anyone Stop Oliver Solberg?
🇸🇪 Oliver Solberg is the heavy favorite, having won his home rally in both 2023 and 2024. But a surprise challenger could emerge—particularly from Toyota’s Rally2 drivers.
🔹 Tuukka Kauppinen (18 years old) steps up to WRC2 after impressing in Finland’s Arctic Rally.
🔹 Georg Linnamäe and Roope Korhonen represent Toyota in the WRC2 battle.
🔹 Mikko Heikkilä, Lauri Joona, Pontus Tidemand, and Isak Reiersen will all drive Škoda Fabia RSs.
🔹 Romet Jürgenson (2023 Junior WRC champion) makes his Rally2 debut in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Junior WRC: The Next Generation Takes Center Stage
The Junior WRC field is stacked with talent, and the battle for the 2025 title starts here.
Potential title contenders include:
- Taylor Gill
- Diego Domínguez
- Ali Türkkan
- Mille Johansson
- Eamonn Kelly
- Max Smart
Also, watch out for newcomers like Joosep Ralf Nõgene, Thomas Martens, and Tristan Charpentier, plus Beyond Rally finalists Lyssia Baudet and Claire Schönborn, with only one of them continuing past Sweden.
New Stages & Route Changes for 2025
🏁 Thursday: Umeå City shakedown + Umeå Sprint (night stage)
🏁 Friday: Almost entirely new route, including Bygdsiljum, Andersvattnet, and Bäck
🏁 Saturday: Vännäs, Sarjöliden, and the new Kolksele + a longer Umeå test at Red Barn Arena
🏁 Sunday: Same as 2024—two runs of Västervik, followed by Umeå Powerstage
What to Expect from Rally Sweden 2025
✅ Will Toyota’s five-car strategy pay off?
✅ Can M-Sport’s expanded lineup challenge the favorites?
✅ Will Hyundai’s upgraded i20 push Neuville or Tänak to victory?
✅ Can Oliver Solberg defend his WRC2 crown?
✅ Who will emerge as the Junior WRC frontrunner?
With snowbanks, icy roads, and high-speed thrills, Rally Sweden never disappoints—and 2025 promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet.
Buckle up—it’s time for Sweden’s winter rally showdown!
