Rally Sweden Underway
Rally Sweden, second round of the 2016 World Rally Championship, has started despite concerns for the state of the roads due to uncharacteristically warm weather and the absence of ice and snow; essential ingredients for this studded tyre event.
Rally organisers, FIA, the WRC Promoter and manufacturers reached agreement to run all stages planned to the revised itinerary, but with two additional tyres. The opening superspecial stage in Karlstad was cancelled earlier in the week, but the ceremonial start went ahead as planned.
The 10-mile Torsby stage was expected to impact on competitor's tyres ahead of two longer, full-ice stages that follow across the border in Norway. Ice cover on Torsby is limited, with the drivers expecting to emerge from the stage with studs missing from their tyres and it was with that in mind that the organisers sanctioned another change to the itinerary and are locating a remote tyre zone before the Rojden stage, SS3 and crews will be permitted the two extra tyres at that zone and, using the two spares already carried in rally cars, can proceed into Norway with four new tyres; punctures permitting!
Organisers are currently thinking on their feet and playing the situation as it happens with no decisions yet about Saturday and Sunday's itinerary however, the weather is expected to get a lot colder, dropping below freezing all day Friday which will make the stages a lot more user friendly.
It's early days but currently, Ogier and Mikkelsen's VW Polos' lead Kris Meeke's Citroen at the top of the leader board with a long way to go!
12th February, 2016