Rally Sweden starts strong - Rovanperä leads after first stage

"The Finnish flag waved highest after the opening stage of Rally Sweden 2024. Kalle Rovanperä was the fastest on the first stretch." PHOTO: ROBERT EKBLOM

Rally Sweden is underway!
Kalle Rovanperä was fastest on the opening 5.16 km short SS1 Umeå Sprint 1. The reigning world champion was 1.4 seconds ahead of fellow Toyota drivers Takamoto Katsuta and Elfyn Evans.
- It's always good with a start like that. It was a little tricky, but all the ice and we had a little difficulty with the grip. Tomorrow will be even more fun, Rovanperä said immediately after the finish.

Home favorite Oliver Solberg took the lead in WRC2. The Skoda driver was three seconds quicker than the competition, which is a lot for such a short distance.
– There were so many people, lights everywhere, and it was so fun to see all the fans out there, said Oliver Solberg.

It was an overall successful opening day of Rally Sweden. After a period of really cold weather, there were only a few minus degrees during the morning's Shakedown Håkmark.

The municipal councilor of Umepå, Hans Lindberg, got a ride in a WRC car; Prince Carl Philip gave the opening speech on the main stage. The Red Barn Arena was already filled in the early evening with an expectant audience, and everything is set for a really exciting continuation of the WCR event.

On Friday morning, the rally starts "for real" with the over 10 km long special stage #42 Brattby 1. The weather forecast predicts some snowfall during the night, which could make the route even more decisive.