The 2023 Rally Sweden has twisted the neck of a preconceived idea: no, Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) is not going to dominate all the rounds of the World Rally Championship season (WRC) ! The Finn didn't even appear on the podium, and left Ott Tänak (M-Sport Ford) and Craig Breen (Hyundai) to fight for victory on Scandinavian soil.

On the only icy and snowy event on the calendar, the Estonian and the Irishman performed magnificently mano a mano, from the first to the last stage this Sunday, February 12. Both victims of delamination of a front left tire on Saturday afternoon, they took their machine to the limit of its capacity. A hybrid system problem on several stages notably handicapped Craig Breen.

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Victory went to Ott Tänak, who brings Malcolm Wilson's clan its first success since Sébastien Loeb at the Monte-Carlo Rally in January 2022. For the 2019 world champion, this triumph is a great way to get back on track in a history linking him to M-Sport for around ten years.

Indeed, it was within the British team that Markko Märtin's protégé started in 2011, then won his first WRC laurels in 2017 (Sardinia and Germany) before moving to Toyota, where he became champion, then Hyundai where he suffered a series of disappointments (2nd in 2022 all the same).

The other strong man in this event was Craig Breen. The one who had the habit of making a series of missteps in 2022 at M-Sport Ford managed to put his thoughts back in place to secure second position... until his boss Cyril Abiteboul called him to order, little before the Power Stage.

Craig Breen only has a partial program with the South Korean brand. Its role is to secure the points in the Manufacturers' standings, while the leadership role is reserved for Thierry Neuville, 3rd on Sunday morning.

The staff therefore asked Craig Breen to voluntarily clock in late from the regrouping park in order to receive a 10-second penalty. These were enough to relegate him one place (3rd), behind Thierry Neuville.

“I don't like to call it a team order, defended Cyril Abiteboul. This is a situation that we all discussed together, Craig included. We're doing a good thing from a team point of view. »

The sporting logic was finally respected: Thierry Neuville made a small mistake in the Power Stage, and Craig Breen beat his Belgian teammate! Craig Breen returned to 2nd before arriving at parc ferme.

Behind, we find Kalle Rovanperä, at the foot of the podium. The Finn was handicapped by his position as opener on Friday, and grabbed a few places on Saturday, until he battled with Thierry Neuville.

The disappointment of this weekend can be attributed to Elfyn Evans (Toyota). The Welshman, although a winner on Nordic soil in 2020, was transparent and never got involved in the fight for the podium. His 5th place was made possible thanks to the accident of Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota, retirement) on Friday afternoon as well as the accident of Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai, 8th) on Saturday.

The only Frenchman registered with a Rally1 hybrid, Pierre-Louis Loubet (M-Sport Ford) experienced a scare during the Power Stage, when his car lost power. The 25-year-old driver finished the event only in electric mode, but preserved his 6th place.

En WRC2, Oliver Solberg (Skoda) dominated his subject. The son of Petter Solberg (2003 champion) won the category for the first time in his career at the age of 21.

WINNERS OF RALLY SWEDEN 2023! 🥳🕺🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/2QcEK8Kk9F

— Oliver Solberg 🍩 (@OliverSolberg01) February 12, 2023

“It’s great, it’s been such a long time since my last success in WRC2. I was consistent, I didn't make any mistakes. » The Swede knew how to take advantage of the problems encountered by all of his direct opponents. This is a great revenge, several months after being fired by Hyundai Motorsport.

En Junior WRC, French debutants Laurent Pellier and Marine Pelamourgues should finish second, behind Irishman William Creighton. The Tricolores were competing in their first rally at this level and on this surface.

Find in the next issue of AUTOhebdo, available Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands, the analysis of the WRC in Sweden by our special correspondent.

Ranking Rally Sweden 2023:

Pierre-Louis Loubet drives slowly but finishes the special 2'30" behind Lappi. His lead of more than 4 minutes over his direct pursuer, Oliver Solberg, allows him to secure 6th place.

In WRC2, Oliver Solberg (Skoda) dominated his subject. The son of Petter Solberg (2003 champion) won the category for the first time in his career. The Swede knew how to take advantage of the problems encountered by all of his direct opponents. A nice revenge, several months after being fired by Hyundai Motorsport.

The commissioners have just imposed a 10-second penalty on Craig Breen! The Irishman is guilty of arriving late at the regrouping park before this SS. The Hyundai exchanges its second place overall with that of Thierry Neuville.

This penalty was caused by the Hyundai Motorsport staff, led by Cyril Abiteboul. Indeed, Craig Breen is only a part-time driver in 2023, while the designated leader of the South Korean team this year is Thierry Neuville, entered in all rounds of the WRC.

This change of position guarantees the Belgian three additional points if he manages to reach the finish line in this second place. Hyundai Motorsport does not lose any points in the Manufacturers' standings in this scenario, as the i20 hybrids remain second and third behind Ott Tänak (M-Sport Ford), and ahead of Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota).

Hello and welcome to all rally enthusiasts to follow the Power Stage, the final special stage of this 2023 Rally Sweden! The departure of the first car is set for 12:18 p.m.