The Swedish Rally and global warming: not a first

With less than 50% of the journey only kept by the organizers, the Rally of Sweden 2020 is one of the events of the World Rally Championship (WRC) most severely affected by global warming. 

The rally, won by Elfyn Evans (Toyota) took place on only nine special stages instead of the 19 announced, over a total mileage of 171,64 km compared to the planned 301,26 km. Beyond the lack of snow, the positive temperatures (nearly 8 degrees on Sunday before the Power Stage) caused a majority absence of ice on Nordic roads.

These images, unflattering for the world rally, are however not not a new thing. But in previous decades, social networks did not exist, and controversy did not spread as quickly and easily as it does now. 

Since its appearance, Rally Sweden has been canceled twice. The first, in 1974, was due to the oil shock, and had nothing to do with the weather. However, the second cancellation, in 1990, is linked to global warming. In fact, the roads were completely free of snow and ice and no fallback solution had been found.

Closer to us, the 1999, 2005, and especially 2008 (two ES canceled) and 2014 editions took place partly in the mud. But these passages worthy of Wales Rally GB were still in the minority. What the 2020 vintage was not. One of the consequences of this mild spell is the destruction of studded tires, themselves causing deterioration of forest roads.

It would therefore be wrong to believe that this phenomenon is new. Moreover, the 2016 route had to be shortened at the last minute due to abnormally high temperatures in the Nordic region. Nine stages were missed. 

The organizers and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) are looking into the climate issue. Jean Todt, the President of the FIA, has already announced that such a rally should not happen again in 2021. The solutions are still unknown. The competition takes place in the south of Sweden. A relocation closer to the Arctic Circle would certainly help to find walls of snow.