The WRC season continues. While our rally adventure brings us to the snowy north of Europe for the oldest rally in the world. Rally Sweden 2023 takes place in the snowy city of Umea from 9 – 12 February. We gathered the most important information about the route and schedule in order to help you plan your racing weekend.
What makes it special?
Sweden’s rally destinations are usually in the city of Umeå with the service park located at the Nolia Exhibition Centre. There is more than 600 kilometers up the east coast from the capital Stockholm. The lonely forests have incredibly quick highways. WRC promoters promise Rally Sweden 2023 will be exciting. They have implemented various route changes.
Furthermore, ice and snow rallying requires a unique approach. This makes rally Sweden all the more special, as seeing how the studded Pirelli tyres bite into the ice to provide remarkable grip makes it worth watching.
Furthermore, we already know that one driver is one force. Kalle Rovanperä showed remarkable strength. Last year he won Sweden rally and scored a whopping 121.52 kph.
There can be no doubt that the world title is charging young Rovanperä. He is ready to add power to traverse the snowy forest even faster. Would he be able to repeat the last success story? That is what we have to find out!
Rallye Sweden 2023 route
There are 18 stages covering 301.18 kilometers on a total route of 1194.16 kilometers. Hold on, it’s going to be a fast-paced adventure! We start Thursday at Red Barn Arena near the center of the city in the single pass, short sprint (5.16km) of Umeå. Being a royal rally fan, Prince Carl Philip is also attending the even. Rally jumps and hairpins are guaranteed.
During Friday’s opening leg, Rovanperä starts the Västerbotten region first. Most rally drivers have already said that it will be a tricky ride. Rally Sweden 2020 winner Elfyn Evans along with Takamoto Katsuta join the Finn to show their skills. Sébastien Ogier is unable to take part.
Next will be Thierry Neuville who is poised to improve upon his second place or even move higher after the Rally Monte-Carlo podium. Esapekka Lappi and Craig Breen complete the Hyundai Motorsport driver line-up for Rally Sweden 2023.
Friday’s leg heads north for two loops of three speed tests, split by a 30-minute service in the city. Here is where the danger literally hides.
We pass Brattby (10.76km), Sarsjöliden (14.23km) and the newly opened Botsmark (25.81km). The second pass through Botsmark our brave racers drive in darkness. Umeå Sprint (5.16km) completes the rally day totalling 106.76km.
Saturday provides a similar route, as it includes new Norrby (12.54km) and Floda (28.25km). Sävar (17.28km) completes the first half of the route back to service. This race day ends in the Red Barn Arena after 126.22km, with the three stages repeated with a longer Umeå (10.08km). It is enough to label Saturday as the longest day of the rally and go to sleep early, as Sunday begins at 7AM (local time).
Sunday’s finale includes back-to-back runs of Västervik (26.48km) . Umeå (10.08km) completes the day as the Wolf Power Stage.
2023 Rally Sweden Schedule
Note, that Sweden time is Central European Time (CET; UTC+01:00). The full schedule of livestreams is available on WRC All Live.
| THURSDAY 09 FEBRUARY | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| OPENING CEREMONY, UMEA | 18:00 |
| BREAK | 18:50 |
| SS1 UMEA SPRINT 1 TV LIVE WF 1 | 19:00 |
| FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| STUDIO FROM UMEA SERVICE PARK | 08:15 |
| SS2 BRATTBY 1 | 08:30 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 09:12 |
| SS3 SARSJOLIDEN 1 | 09:31 |
| BREAK | 10:15 |
| SS4 BOTSMARK 1 | 11:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 11:53 |
| BREAK | 12:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 14:45 |
| SS5 BRATTBY 2 | 14:53 |
| SS6 SARSJOLIDEN 2 | 15:54 |
| BREAK | 16:45 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 17:15 |
| SS7 BOTSMARK 2 | 17:26 |
| BREAK | 18:15 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 19:00 |
| SS8 UMEA SPRINT 2 | 19:05 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 19:44 |
| SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| SS9 SS9 NORRBY 1 – TV LIVE WF2 | 08:00 |
| SS10 FLODA 1 | 09:00 |
| BREAK | 10:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 10:30 |
| SS11 SAVAR 1 | 10:41 |
| BREAK | 11:30 |
| SS12 NORRBY 2 – TV LIVE WF3 | 14:00 |
| SS13 FLODA 2 | 15:00 |
| BREAK | 16:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 16:30 |
| SS14 SAVAR 2 | 16:41 |
| BREAK | 17:30 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 18:00 |
| SS15 UMEA 1 | 18:05 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 18:47 |
| SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 07:00 |
| SS16 VASTERVIK 1 | 07:05 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 07:55 |
| BREAK | 08:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 09:00 |
| SS17 VASTERVIK 2 | 10:05 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 10:55 |
| BREAK | 11:00 |
| SS18 UMEA 2 – TV LIVE WF4 – WOLF POWERSTAGE | 12:00 |
| WRAP UP SHOW / UMEA SERVICE PARK / | 13:30 |
What is Rally Sweden in 2023?
Summing up, rally Sweden in 2023 is about unforgettable adventure through the wild snowy forest. The drivers will complete more than 300 kilometers that weave their way through the picturesque countryside of northern Sweden.
The weather conditions in Sweden, along with the snow and ice, will be a treat for rally racing competitors. The forecast promises an average temperature of -10C. The fast legs that we will pass in the dark are more unpredictable than ever. Besides, rally Sweden is one of the fastest rallies of the season.
Spectators are guaranteed a thrilling show as some of the sport’s most legendary names battle for glory in thrilling conditions that are worth watching anyway!
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