Hello rally fans :)!
I took my time with writing this post (sorry @ssekulji ..) because I was so pleasantly surprised with rally Sweden!! The 2025 WRC Rally Sweden like always delivered everything us fans love about winter rallies; snow covered stages, action that glues you to the screen, and plenty of drama. Here’s a full recap of the event, from the weather conditions to the top performers, crashes, and penalties :)!
Let’s begin shall we?
Weather Conditions: A Cold Winter Wonderland
Rally Sweden is a synonymous with snow and ice, and this year did not disappoint. The event was held in near perfect winter conditions, with temperatures hovering between -5°C and -10°C throughout the weekend. Fresh snowfall on Thursday night ensured the stages were coated in a decent layer of snow, that gave excellent grip for studded tires. However, as the rally progressed, the repeated passage of cars turned some sections into a mix of slush and ice, challenging the drivers that went after. (As it often is in rally, alt it’s nice to have a line in the snow that you can follow)
Stage Highlights: Where the Action Unfolded
The rally featured 18 stages covering a total distance of 300 kilometers, with both classic Swedish stages and new ones to keep things fresh. Here are some of the moments:
Stage 1 (Thursday Night): The rally kicked off with the short Umeå Sprint. Elfynn Evans set the pace early, winning the stage and taking an immediate lead.
Stage 5 (Friday): Bygdsiljum 2, one of the longest stages of the rally, saw Takamoto Katsuta dominate with a flawless run, while Elfyn Evans struggled with the stage (I think?) and lost valuable time. There was a very icy section on which to brake to enter a sharp right corner. All the crews had difficulty braking and some went straight, losing a lot of time. Rovanpera, McErlean and Fourmaux were the drivers who had the most problems.
Stage 10 (Saturday): Sarjöliden had one of the most dramatic moments of the rally. Josh McErlean overshoot a junction pushing hard to close the gap to the leaders. Despite the crash, he managed to continue. Neuville and Taka struggled with understeer and Tänak had a problem with oil/windscreen cleaner spraying so he couldn’t see well. There were some WRC2 crews that retired and/or went off road.
On SS11 Kolksele Adrien Fourmaux started the stage very slowly and then stopped after a few meters. From the cameras inside the car it was seen that Adrien had to fasten his helmet correctly and had not worn a glove…
Another mistake by Adrien happened on SS13 Sarjöliden 2 where he went wide in a corner hitting a snowbank 900m into the stage. He was stuck for quite a while there.
Power Stage (Sunday): The final stage, Umeå, lived up to its reputation as a decider. Evans clinched the stage win and secured maximum Power Stage points, while Takamoto Katsuta put in a stunning drive to finish second on the stage.
Top 8 Results: WRC1
The battle for victory was intense, with several drivers trading stage wins throughout the weekend. Here’s how the top 10 shook out:
- #33 Evans Elfyn & Martin Scott
- #18 Katsuta Takamoto & Johnston Aaron
- #1 Neuville Thierry & Wydaeghe Martijn
- #8 Tänak Ott & Järveoja Martin
- #69 Rovanperä Kalle & Halttunen Jonne
- #22 Sesks Martins & Francis Renars
- #5 Pajari Sami &Salminen Marko
- #13 Munster Grégoire & Louka Louis
Top 9 Results: WRC2
The WRC2 category was equally competitive, with several drivers vying for supremacy:
- #20 Solberg Oliver & Edmondson Elliott
- #23 Korhonen Roope & Viinikka Anssi
- #25 Heikkilä Mikko & Temonen Kristian
- #26 Joona Lauri & Vaaleri Samu
- #29 Reiersen Isak & Gustavsson Stefan
- #27 Zaldivar Fabrizio & Der Ohannesian Marcelo
- #30 Jürgenson Romet & Oja Siim
- #24 Tidemand Pontus & Eriksen Jorgen
- #32 Yamamoto Yuki & Fulton James
Penalties and Controversies
No rally is complete without its share of penalties and controversies:
- Breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code. A fine of €10,000 is imposed on the Driver ADRIEN FOURMAUX. An additional fine of €20,000 is imposed on the Driver ADRIEN FOURMAUX, which is applied with suspension of sentence for 12 months (expiring on February 16, 2026) on condition that the Driver commits no further breach of Article 12.2.1.l of the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code.
- Failure by the crew addressed above to activate the OK display on the FIA Safety tracking device within one minute after stopping on SS6 (Andersvattnet 2). Having considered that Mr. JORGE MARTÍNEZ is a non-priority driver, Driver JORGE MARTÍNEZ and Co-driver JOSÉ ALBERTO AROS shall be jointly and severally liable to pay a fine of € 250.
- The Crew of Car No. 70 entered parc fermé approximately 15 minutes ahead of their due time at TC1B. Fine of € 1000 jointly and severally on the Crew of Car No. 70 (JORGE MARTÍNEZ / JOSÉ ALBERTO AROS).
What we learned from Rally Sweden?
Rally Sweden 2025 delivered a spectacle, featuring six lead changes and a razor thin victory margin of 3.8 seconds. Elfyn Evans came prepared, showcasing a relaxed and self assured driving style that showcased him as a strong driver for this year’s championship. His Toyota teammate, Takamoto Katsuta, demonstrated remarkable pace and discipline, maintaining pressure throughout and securing a second place. Adrien Fourmaux exhibited impressive speed, though moments of inconsistency highlighted areas for refinement. Notably, Kalle Rovanperä faced ongoing challenges, underscoring the competitive nature.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 WRC Rally Sweden was a thrilling start to the rally season, delivering high speed action, dramatic moments, and unforgettable performances. As the championship moves on to the next round, the battle for championship is heating up. Who will come up as the ultimate champion? Only time will tell.
Until then, let’s remember the memories of this snowy spectacle and look forward to more wheel-to-wheel action in the WRC :)!
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for upvoting, reblogging & commenting. It is greatly appreciated :)❤️!
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Photo credit to rightful owners (idk who took the photo it was from Taka’s insta..)