1 – After two seasons, rally on snow. It is true that the 2020 Rally Sweden could be developed without difficulty, before the arrival of the coronavirus. Of course, the snow conditions were not the desired and it became, practically, a rally on gravel. This weekend the teams will find themselves in a difficult snow and ice environment, worthy of the best WRC races on this surface.
2 – Ten stages, but intense. The number of specials has been cut to a total of ten. Still, the teams will find themselves facing a very interesting challenge. The longest will be on Friday, Sarriojärvi, with 31 kilometers of distance. The shortest, for its part, Kaihuavaara, with 20. The Power Stage will have its part, with 22.50 km.
3 – Rally known to several drivers. Kalle Rovanperä is one of them. The young man disputed his first rally with the Toyota Yaris WRC in the 2020 edition, winning with solvency. Oliver Solberg and Ole Christian Veiby (WRC2) participated in the January edition. Teemu Asunmaa and Emil Lindholm (WRC3) were also present. The same stages will not be found, but all experience counts in a new race for everyone.
4 – Oliver Solberg, in his debut with a top-class car. Despite his co-driver change, the young Swede is facing one of the most important opportunities of his sporting career. The objective, said by him, is to enjoy, but we will see how it evolves. It can be one of the big surprises. And it goes without saying … First of many races with a WRC.
5 – Four Ford Fiesta WRCs on the starting line. To the official drivers, Teemu Suninen and Gus Greensmith, we will have to add the presence of two more crews. Lorenzo Bertelli and Janne Tuohino are back in the World Rally Championship with their 2017 units (both with private teams). Two interesting incentives for M-Sport.
6 – The WRC2 category, exciting. To the Mikkelsen, Fourmaux, Gryazin … Participants in the “Monte”, it will be necessary to add the presence of drivers with a lot of experience in snow. Esapekka Lappi is one of them (VW Polo R5). Huttunen, Veiby or even Brynildsen, double Norwegian Champion, can give the surprise.
7 – Two World Rallycross Champions at the starting line. Johan Kristoffersson and Mattias Ekström, champions with Volkswagen and Audi, will participate in the Finnish event. The first will get on a Volkswagen Polo R5, while the second will do the same with a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
8 – Carlos del Barrio makes his debut with “Fau” Zaldivar. Both will compete together, for the first time, in a round of the World Rally Championship. They will also participate for the first time with TokSport’s Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo in the WRC3 category. We will be very attentive to them.
9 – 100% Spanish couple in the race. Miguel Díaz-Aboitiz, finally with Rodrigo Sanjuán on the right, will compete in his second round of the WRC in 2021. He will contest a six-race program in WRC3 aboard Calm Competició’s Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. Along with Carlos del Barrio, will be the other Spaniards on the way out.
10 – Finally, enjoy the rally. Local fans will not be able to attend the event either, but thanks to the WRC + platform, we will be able to follow everything live. Teledeporte and Red Bull TV, in addition to local TV, will also broadcast post-stage-rally summaries.
