WRC Rally Sweden 2022 is a tough challenge because of the place of destination. The World Rally Championship has never been to the Vasterbotten region. Closer to the Arctic Circle, rally racing in Sweden is the breathtaking call that our brave drivers should take up.
Historical background
Interestingly, the authentic name of the first ever rally in Sweden is “Rally to the Midnight Sun,” which had its first run in the summer of 1950 and only became a winter event in 1965.
Most Nordic drivers face the luck here. Although Sebastien Ogier, Sebastien Loeb, Elfyn Evans, Thierry Neuville and, of course, Ott Tanak also were successes here and conquers the snow-covered WRC Sweden Rally.
Ot Tanak has a significant support here, as his fan base always comes to Sweden to meet a national star. Hyundai driver should keep pushing here, as his fans are just waiting to win the WRC Rally Sweden 2022!
Today the list of participants completed only with the best, because racing through the frost and ice requires special skills. You can meet the Rally Sweden 2022 official entry list below, as it provided the Rally Sweden official website of the event.
WRC Rally Sweden 2022 entry list.
WRC Rally Sweden 2022 route or why it will not be easy?
Give the snow a lot!
Rally Sweden is the only pure winter round in FIA World Rally Championship calendar 2022. So we have moved from the traditional home in Varmland in 700 km north to the region of Vasterbotten. We stay in the town of Umea is closer to the Arctic Circle. Why is that? Just to find the trickiest snow and ice! The organizers assured, white cover will be even more than expected!
It’s the real challenge for our souped-up rally cars! Rivet tires help the drivers with the deal to make remarkable grip on snow and ice. You may wonder, but the WRC Rally Sweden 2022 is one of the fastest races of the season! Therefore, prickly ice in the eyes and in the windshield, frozen fir trees and slippery roads – that’s what we have to face.
Different conditions in advance and the unpredictable route.
So the route of the WRC Sweden 2022 is new for all drivers in the line. Although Toyota Gazoo racing, Hyundai and M-Sport drivers have all tested in the country’s north, but under different conditions. What are the conditions during the real race weekend in Sweden? There are only forecasts. Speaking of the forecast. We are expecting temperatures to drop to -15 ° C at night and stay well below freezing throughout the day, with heavy snowfall possible.
One thing is certain: together with teams and drivers, we will complete the 19 stages over 305.79 km over a total distance of 1339.80 km!
WRC Rally Sweden 2022 stages.
The opening ceremony opens the event on Thursday in the city of Umea and we drive north to two loops with three speed tests, divided according to the service in the city on Friday. Our trip passes through Kroksjo, then Kamsjon – the longest of the event with 27.81 km, and finally Savar.
The Umea Sprint finishes Friday at the Red Barn Arena near the service park. The seven tests add up to 125.67 km. Friday is the longest day of the WRC Rally Sweden 2022.
Saturday sees two identical loops of four stages separated by a service. Brattby and Ortrask follow Langed. Each loop closes with Umea, an extended version of the sprint stage from the previous evening, which in turn ends in the arena.
The final on Sunday will be 56.84 km long. Four stages northwest of Umea of Vindeln and Sarsjoliden will be cycled twice, with the final stage.
The most difficult part of the route
As the saying goes: “The hardest thing is to start”. The idea has similarities to our Sweden Winter Challenge! Kroksjo test on Friday is the opening stage and the hardest part of the route! All levels of difficulty at once, with bends, combs and trees on guard right by the roadside! Narrow but fast forest paths give way to a rapid 2.5 km explosion! There is no room and no time for mistakes.
WRC Rally Sweden 2022 schedule
| Thursday 24 February | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| JWRC SEASON PREVIEW SHOW | 19:15 |
| PRE SHOW AND START CEREMONY UMEA CITY | 19:45 |
| Friday 25 February | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| GOOD MORNING RALLY | 08:30 |
| SS1 KROKSJO 1 | 08:42 |
| BREAK | 09:30 |
| SS2 KAMSJON 1 | 09:55 |
| BREAK | 10:45 |
| SS3 SAVAR 1 | 11:30 |
| UMEA STUDIO | 12:12 |
| BREAK | 13:15 |
| SS4 KROKSJO 2 | 14:45 |
| BREAK | 15:30 |
| SS5 KAMSJON 2 | 15:58 |
| BREAK | 16:45 |
| SS6 SAVAR 2 | 17:34 |
| SS7 UMEA SPRINT WORLD FEED TV 1 | 18:30 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK – MEDIA ZONE AND FLEXI SERVICE B | 19:30 |
| Saturday 26 February | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| GOOD MORNING RALLY FANS | 08:00 |
| SS8 BRATTBY 1 | 08:54 |
| BREAK | 09:45 |
| SS10 LANGED 1 | 10:54 |
| SS11 UMEA 1 – WORLD FEED TV 2 | 12:00 |
| BREAK | 12:58 |
| SS12 BRATTBY 2 | 15:27 |
| BREAK | 16:15 |
| SS14 LANGED 2 | 17:24 |
| SS15 UMEA 2 – WORLD FEED TV 2 | 18:30 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK – MEDIA ZONE AND FLEXI SERVICE D | 19:30 |
| Sunday 27 February | LOCAL TIME |
|---|---|
| UMEA SERVICE PARK | 05:30 |
| SS16 VINDELN 1 | 07:00 |
| SS17 SARSJOLIDEN 1 – WORLD FEED TV 4 | 08:00 |
| BREAK | 09:00 |
| SS18 VINDELN 2 | 09:37 |
| BREAK | 10:30 |
| SS19 SARSJOLIDEN 2 – POWER STAGE WORLD FEED TV 5 | 12:00 |
| UMEA SERVICE PARK STUDIO WRAP SHOW | 13:30 |
Before the Rally Sweden 2022, summing up!
In fact, for some of your drivers, the WRC Rally Sweden 2022 will be an even more exciting journey. Therefore, the eyes of the Hyundai drivers are only on the price. Ott Tanak, after failing Rally Monte Carlo, here in Sweden Tanak has to bring his name among the winners! Thierry Neuville is another Hyundai standard bearer also has a special goal – to score points for the team, as Toyota Gazoo racing cars are quick.
While Sebastien Ogier is not on the grid, the talented Welsh rally driver Elfyn Evans has a plan for pole. Other Toyota drivers, Takamoto Katsuta and young star Kalle Rovanpera, are ready to compete in WRC Rally Sweden. M-Sport driver Gus Greensmith is also among the youngsters fighting for victory.
Whether Hyundai or Toyota, both teams have a Team M-Sport Ford – the black horses on the starting grid. Sebastien Loeb is a very tough rival, he already has victory in the WRC Rally Sweden in his bag. Will he be able to repeat the success of the WRC Monte Carlo 2022 and secure pole position? Craig Breen, a younger but also talented racer, had successful results in the pre-event races, so he expected good places behind the wheel of his Puma Rally1 car.
We are waiting for a hard and very interesting adventure through the frozen forest. The live broadcast as always on WRC All live. Dress up warm, we start in Umea!
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