Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT are up for the challenge in Sweden

Kalle Rovanperä is ready for Shakedown on Thursday in Rally Sweden.

The Recce is done. On Thursday morning, it's time for Shakedown in Rally Sweden. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT is up for the challenge.

Elfvyn Evans won the last Rally Sweden in 2020, and now the Welsh driver looks forward to the 2022 edition.

- It's pretty mixed out there with some stages that are very, very fast and some that are more technical and twisty. But mostly, it's one of the most rapid rallies we've seen. Otherwise, I'm sure that the surface will be a topic. On some stages, the gravel has come up already, and that's what's worrying, Evan says.

- Of course, I would like to repeat the performance from 2020, but it's different circumstances, different areas, and different cars. But I'm looking forward to doing the best we can.

The three special stages at The Red Barn arena highlight the rally in terms of audience and the stadium. What do you say about those special stages?

- It's quite a different character from the other stages, with many narrow junctions, extended corners, and an excellent base. Then you have the finish on the arena with these quite sharp jumps, so I think it should be pretty spectacular.

Teammates from Finland, Kalle Rovanperä and Esa-Pekka Lappi share similar ideas with their Welsh counterpart.

Rovanperä, who took fourth place in the WRC premiere, hopes, like many Nordic drivers, that his surroundings with a lot of snow and wintry winter roads will benefit him.

But the weather temperature can make up for it and the fact that the Finn is the first car to start on Friday.

- It isn't easy to speculate about the weather and how it will affect the conditions. If there are frozen roads, it will benefit me, and if the surface is soft, it is not as good. Then it is not optimal to be the first car to start, but I have to deal with it, says Rovanperä.

The new technology with hybrid cars is also a learning process that he wants to include as a factor affecting the result during Rally Sweden.

- We made a couple of changes during the Monte Carlo rally, which made me learn more and more about the car as the competition went on. I have to try to take advantage of that here in Sweden. I will not drive recklessly but still try to stay at maximum, he says.

Esa-Pekka Lappi hopes to participate and fight for a place but is also aware of the competition.

- But before a rally has started, you can never say that it is impossible. It will be tough. I am aware of that. But we have been surprised before.

The new hybrid technology is also, just like for Rovanperä, a learning process for Esa-Pekka Lappi, which he can now continue with during Rally Sweden.

- I think the most significant difference is in the curve, it goes a little slower, and I feel that it tends to undermine a little, which means that you have to have a more aggressive driving style.