Rally Sweden 2022
11h
The third special will start at 11:50 a.m. due to the special stop this morning.
10h
The general classification has changed in the space of one special. Esapekka Lappi (Toyota) shows that he has not lost his driving skills for his first rally with Toyota Gazoo Racing since the end of 2018. The Finn takes the lead thanks to a scratch time, the first since Finland in summer 2019!
Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) is however only 1”0 behind the new leader. Young Oliver Solberg (Hyundai) leads the chase for third place at 2”9. His teammate Ott Tänak is 4th at 3”8. Thierry Neuville does not appear in the provisional classification just like Gus Greensmith (Ford) and Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) because the three drivers had to slow down during the special interruption linked to the exit of Craig Breen (Ford).
Adrien Fourmaux (Ford) is already flirting with the minute delay. But the Frenchman has been instructed to see the finish on Sunday noon, even if it means taking it easy on the ice.
10h
Another WRC2 outsider is in trouble. Emil Lindholm (Skoda) is on his side after climbing a wall of snow!
10h
Oliver Solberg slowed down at the end of the special, finishing more than 3'' behind Lappi. In WRC2, Marco Bulacia (Skoda) is reported stopped in the special!
10h
Esapekka Lappi takes the provisional best time by 2”5 over his teammate Kalle Rovanperä! " I am surprised ! I was so slow, I braked in corners where it could go full throttle due to lack of confidence. We need to improve on the wide roads. »
10h
Oliver Solberg reaches 190 km/h on the ice! The Swede attacks and challenges Kalle Rovanperä mid-stage. For his part, Adrien Fourmaux again concedes 24″3. “This ES is different, it is faster than the previous one. I didn't take any risks, especially during the braking phases. »
10h
Ott Tänak finished 3″2 behind Kalle Rovanperä. “We have difficulty with the balance of the Hyundai. The car is still new, we are doing everything we can to tune it up. »
10h
Elfyn Evans lost 3”4 to Kalle Rovanperä in this SS.
10h
Leading at the first intermediate by 2 tenths, Ott Tänak conceded 2″5 to Kalle Rovanperä halfway through.
10h
Concerning the times of Neuville, Greensmith and Katsuta, an average could be determined by the commissioners in order not to penalize the three men, forced to slow down in the special. In addition, SS3 will start 20 minutes late.
10h
The special stage was stopped by the race direction for a few minutes, forcing Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), Gus Greensmith and Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) to reach the finish line at a slow pace. These drivers could be credited with a fixed time. The rally resumes with Elfyn Evans.
10h
Thierry Neuville finished slowly following the red flag. “We're lucky because the electric boost didn't work on this special! »
10h
The special is stopped! However, Craig Breen's Ford Puma does not obstruct the passage because it is located off-road...
10h
Disaster for M-Sport Ford! A special after the loss of time of Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux, it is Craig Breen's turn to experience an ordeal. The Irishman went off the track a second time! But this time, the Ford Puma hybrid is stuck in the snowdrift and cannot leave!
10h
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) was very hot! The Belgian made a mistake in the same place as Craig Breen, but the wall of snow flattened by the Ford allowed the Hyundai to continue its journey without stopping! The Belgian lost 3'' at the first intermediate.
10h
Craig Breen (Ford) was trapped! The Irishman found himself stuck in a wall of snow from the first km of the special. Stuck across the road, the M-Sport driver lost 28”! The Ford Puma hybrid left but with aerodynamic damage.
09h
While waiting for the first partials, let's see what happens in WRC2 in SS1. Jari Huttunen (Ford) set the best time ahead of Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen) by 1″1. Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) is 3rd at 2″9.
09h
The first passage in this special is the work of Kalle Rovanperä. The Finn is followed by a drone equipped with a camera, an innovation never before seen on live television from the WRC.
09h
Here is the provisional ranking:
09h
We meet again for the second special of the day, which also happens to be the longest of the Swedish competition: 27,81 km!
