The battle for Rally Sweden is already shaping up to be a thriller, with three different leaders throughout Friday’s action and five drivers separated by just 9.1 seconds. Elfyn Evans holds a razor-thin 0.6-second lead over Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta, while Ott Tänak, Adrien Fourmaux, and Thierry Neuville remain firmly in the hunt.
With unpredictable conditions, new Hankook tires, and relentless pressure, this rally is far from over.
The Tire Tension: A Monte Carlo-Style Gamble
Standing at the start of SS2 Bygdsiljum, the atmosphere felt more like Monte Carlo than Sweden. No one knew exactly how their Hankook tires would behave over the icy and snowy terrain.
Kalle Rovanperä, known for his masterful car control, struggled more than expected with the new rubber and admitted that his setup choices made things worse. The two-time champion finds himself unusually cut adrift in sixth place, searching for pace.
Fellow Finn Sami Pajari got a brutal lesson in tire management when a light tap on a snowbank knocked his rear tire off the rim, leaving him confused:
“For me, it felt like a very normal hit to the snowbank, like what happens in snow rallies. It didn’t feel so strange. But somehow, the tire came off. So now, we just need to keep pushing.”
Tire adaptation has become the defining factor of Friday’s action, with Tänak summarizing it best:
“We know that on the snow, they are not working. On the ice, they work quite fine, but the window is quite small. We just need to adapt and get better.”
Saturday’s forecast suggests better conditions with a stronger ice base, but overnight snowfall could still throw a wrench into everyone’s plans.
Evans Leads the Pack—But for How Long?
Elfyn Evans is the man to beat, looking calm, collected, and confident in his Toyota. Despite fierce competition, he has led for most of the rally so far, showcasing a level of consistency that has kept him out of trouble.
“Compared to last year, this is a lot better,” Evans reflected.
“We knew the penalty should be less than in previous years. Last year, we were first on the road, and it was a disaster—losing 30 seconds per stage. This time, we’ve managed to find our way through it OK.”
Toyota team boss Jari-Matti Latvala admitted he underestimated Evans, expecting him to struggle—but he’s been thoroughly impressed:
“I thought before the rally that Elfyn would suffer, that he wouldn’t be able to fight for the victory. But I was wrong—he has done an amazing job.”
Katsuta and Tänak Keep the Heat On
Katsuta, meanwhile, is playing the long game. Though he has the pace to push harder, he knows that with these tires, one miscalculation could be costly:
“Of course, it’s very nice to be in the fight,” Katsuta said.
“I didn’t do anything crazy today, I feel comfortable. Maybe I could do some things better with tire changes, but otherwise, all good.”
Latvala, however, issued a cautionary reminder to the Japanese driver, recalling his crash from a similar position last year:
“I think I will remind Taka of something… because last year, he was fighting for the win and ended up in a snowbank. This time, I want the fight to last until the final day.”
And then, there’s Ott Tänak—the Hyundai ace who has been in the mix all day but felt he was too conservative with his tire strategy early in the afternoon. Despite that, he sits just 2.5 seconds off the lead in third place.
Hyundai’s Dark Horses—Fourmaux and Neuville Lurking
Adrien Fourmaux has been one of the revelations of the rally, keeping his Ford well within striking distance at just 7.9s behind Evans.
“It’s my fifth rally on snow, so I don’t have a lot of experience,” Fourmaux admitted.
“But I had some good training during the winter—driving old-school cars on snow in France.”
Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville is taking a more measured approach:
“Risks? I don’t want to take a risk, no,” he said.
“I want to have a clean run. Probably trust myself and follow the feeling.”
Saturday Showdown: Who’s Willing to Risk It All?
With five drivers within 9.1 seconds, Saturday will be a warzone. Tire management, precise driving, and a willingness to take risks will be the deciding factors.
“The top five, we are all in a similar starting position now,” Katsuta noted.
“Very, very looking forward.”
And he’s not alone. The fight for Rally Sweden is only getting started.
