The
FIA World Rally Championship heads to the long and winding forest routes of Sweden this weekend for the only 'real' snow event in this year's schedule.
The 57th edition will be based in the town of Karlstad, 250 kilometres west of Stockholm and unsurprisingly it is often dominated by the Scandinavians. Indeed only one non-Nordic driver - namely
Sebastien Loeb - has won the round in its 45-year history.
The event runs on gravel roads through the forests of the Varmland region, normally frozen and covered in compacted snow and ice.
This year, unseasonably warm weather has caused some concern over the amount of snow but one week before the round, the snow began and the organisers are pledging the event will run to its usual high standard.
Special notes:
Although the stage surfaces consist of snow and ice, Sweden is ironically one of the quickest events of the year as the cars run on narrow tyres with studs that provide even better grip than an ordinary gravel rally.
When it snows heavily, thick snowbanks form by the side of the Swedish stages to line the route. Part of the 'black art' of driving the Swedish Rally is to know how to use those snowbanks effectively, by 'leaning' the car against them in order to guide it through the corner.
This is a delicate balancing act though: if a driver leans too hard the car will simply crash through the snowbank and get stuck. Too much contact with the snow can also clog radiators and cause overheating, so it is always important to keep a clean but fast line.
This year's snowfall may not be as heavy as that of previous years, so it will be especially important for the drivers to look after their tyres in order not to lose too many studs.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
With just two weeks between the Rally Monte Carlo and the Swedish Rally teams will have had little time to catch their breath.
