The event is paired with Rally Norway, on the WRC calendar for the first time. The event takes place the following weekend and is based across the border in Hamar, just 250kms from Karlstad. Rally Norway is also a winter/snow event.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has taken the early lead in the 2007 FIA World Rally drivers' championship following the opening round of the series, the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo last month. Loeb scored 10 points following his win at the Principality, while Daniel Sordo was second to take 8 and Marcus Gronholm third to score 6.
In the Manufacturers' championship the Citroen Total WRT went top - having scored the maximum points possible, 18 - 8 points up on the
BP Ford WRT.
News from the Manufacturers' teams:
Citroen Total WRT:
[
Sebastien Loeb, car #1 and
Daniel Sordo, car #2]
Sebastien Loeb has said that he is really looking forward to the Swedish Rally
providing there is lots of snow. Loeb, who won the event in 2004, the only non-Nordic driver to have managed the feat following 55th editions, added that while it is one of his favourites when it’s a proper winter event, he can’t stand it when conditions are more mild.
“It all depends on the conditions,” he explained, when asked if it is an event he enjoys. “When there's a nice, consistent coating of ice for the studs to bite into, then it's ideal. If, on top of that, the stages are lined by snow banks and the sun is shining, it's a fantastic rally; one of my favourites!
“The picture gets complicated if the ice is covered by snow. The grip then becomes changeable, ruts form and, if you don't keep to them, the studs pick up fresh snow and the car's reactions become brutal and unpleasant.
“The worse case scenario is mild weather. You've got no snow banks to lean on, everything melts and you end up driving on dirt. When that happens, it's not my favourite event, quite the contrary.”
