WRC Sweden Feb 8-10 talk/results spoiler**

[Weasel 555]

The Subaru World Rally Team heads to the long and winding forest routes of Rally Sweden ready to tackle the challenge of all-out sideways action as crews wrestle their machines across sheet ice. The only specialist snow rally of the year, it is one of the fastest and most competitive as WRC crews battle to prove their mettle on the only wholly ice-covered speed tests they will encounter all year.

Travelling to the city of Karlstad for the event that has honed the skills of so many past greats, it is clear to see how the conditions develop the flamboyant mastery of Scandinavians behind the wheel. Aboard his Subaru Impreza WRC2007, Petter Solberg is no exception. The Norwegian grew up driving cars on the tundra of his homeland and won here in 2005, finishing on the podium twice since joining the team.

There is a finite skill demonstrated on few other events of flicking the car into the long and twisting corners and ‘leaning’ against the snow banks, literally using them to guide the car through the icy corners. Rally Sweden is the first competitive outing for Pirelli’s Sottozero ice tyre. The skinny rubber is dotted with metal studs designed to bite through the ice into the harder-packed surface below, producing fantastic grip on the most treacherous of conditions.

This year the event is based in Karlstad, and opens with a spectator-friendly speed test on Thursday night around the city’s 1.9 kilometre horse trotting track. Conditions in Sweden traditionally have made for one of the most extreme events of the season, but this year teams and organisers alike are watching the weather with trepidation. While snow is predicted over the weekend, there is currently a lack of snow on the stages. With average temperatures just above freezing, it is somewhat uncharacteristic of a rally that can see conditions plummet to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

In addition to the roads being incredibly treacherous, they are also very fast and flowing. In fact, the wintry routes are amongst the fastest of the entire season. Demanding maximum confidence from crews in their vehicles, the event is a stern test of man and machine and huge gains can be made by those fully commitment and driving on the edge.

The route this year comprises five new stages, one of which has been resurrected from 2000. Drivers who learn these new routes fastest and perfect their tricky pace notes to avoid mistakes will gain a significant advantage. With three remote services in Sunne and Hagfors, crews will tackle 20 stages and just over 340 competitive kilometres before reaching the finish.

read more

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follow it on:
www.swrt.com
http://www.crash.net/home~cid~4.htm
www.wrc.com
http://www.rallye-info.com/default.asp

[Weasel 555]

Drivers Championship After Round 1 of 15
1.SEBASTIEN LOEB Citroen - 10
2.MIKKO HIRVONEN BP Ford - 8
3.CHRIS ATKINSON Subaru - 6
4.FRANCOIS DUVAL Stobart - 5
5.PETTER SOLBERG Subaru - 4
6.GIGI GALLI Stobart - 3
7.JEAN-MARIE CUOQ Peugeot - 2
8.PER-GUNNAR ANDERSSON Suzuki - 1

---------------------------------------------------------------
Manufactures Championship After Round 1 of 15
1. CITROEN TOTAL WRT - 11
2. SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM - 10
3. STOBART VK M-SPORT FORD RALLY TEAM - 8
= BP FORD ABU DHABI WORLD RALLY TEAM - 8
5. SUZUKI WORLD RALLY TEAM - 2
6. MUNCHI'S FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM - 0

Championship Tables

[dehnem]

Go Subaru!

[perfusionista]

This just in: Petter Solberg is leading the Swedish Rally, after finishing first on the Thursday night Superspecial. He is just ahead of Latvala, Hirvonen, Loeb, brother Henning, Gigi Galli and the Suzukis. Chris Atkinson is 14th, 7.3 seconds down...

[WRXelent]

Great news! Is there snow, I mean a lot of snow?

[Weasel 555]

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has gone off in SS4 of the Uddeholm Swedish Rally, the third stage of the day.

According to early reports the Frenchman rolled his C4 WRC car in the 22.09 kilometre-run through Mangen 1 after hitting a snowbank.

Furthermore while he still managed to complete the stage he lost over 3.5 minutes and plummets down the leaderboard. Seb is now said to be concerned that he may have damaged the engine and he has already reported that he has clutch problems.

Loeb had been running in third place overall post-SS3, 11.9 seconds off BP Ford Abu Dhabi's Jari-Matti Latvala, who currently heads the pack.

SS4 - Mangen 1 (22.09 km): Latvala fastest through SS4; Henning Solberg second; Hirvonen third; Galli fourth; Petter Solberg fifth; Wilson sixth; Loeb rolls after hitting a snowbank - loses over 3.5 minutes; Mikkelsen spun; Ostberg hit something and picked up a puncture; Aava went off and lost over 7 minutes; P-G stopped in stage with engine problems; Ketomaa and Sandell jointly head the PWRC category; Latvala leads the overall event by 24 secs.

Overall SS4:
1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 31mins 46.8secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 24.0secs M
3. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 33.3secs M
4. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 49.3secs M
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +01mins 02.7secs M
6. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +01mins 24.3secs M
7. Matthew Wilson Stobart Focus WRC 07 +01mins 32.7secs A8
8. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC +01mins 36.8secs A8
9. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Focus WRC 06 +01mins 38.4secs A8
10. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +02mins 41.5secs P
= Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +02mins 41.5secs P

12. Khalid Al-Qassimi - BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +02mins 55.0secs A8
13. Juho Hanninen - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +02mins 59.0secs P
14. Jukka Ketomaki Subaru Impreza +03mins 03.4secs N4
15. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +03mins 11.8secs P
16. Andreas Aigner - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 15.6secs P
17. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 21.5secs P
18. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 24.8secs P
19. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC +03mins 38.7secs A8
20. Oscar Svedlund Subaru Impreza +03mins 45.9secs P

Overall PWRC after SS4:
1. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 34mins 28.3secs P
2. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +00mins 00.0secs P
3. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +00mins 17.5secs P
4. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +00mins 30.3secs P
5. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Evo IX +00mins 34.1secs P

Notable Retirement SS4. P-G Andersson Suzuki SX4-Engine. M

Crash.net SS4

SS3:
Subaru's Chris Atkinson has lost over 15 minutes following an off in SS3 of the Uddeholm Swedish Rally.

Atkinson had been in ninth place overall until he spun around halfway through the 21.58 kilometre-run through Bjalverud 1. Although he managed to continue the incident has cost him dear and he is now right at the back of the pack.

[Weasel 555]

A Group N '08STI:



Thanks to: rallye-info.com/gallery. Sweden

[Weasel 555]

Multiple world champion Sebastien Loeb has retired from day 1 of the Uddeholm Swedish Rally following his off in SS4.

Loeb managed to nurse his Citroen C4 WRC back to the short service at Sunne, but the damage was apparently too great for him to continue any further. He subseqently retired following service B, prior to the start of the second loop - and after also picking up a 50 second penalty for being late into TC [Time Control] 4A.

It is not yet known if he will be able to re-start on Saturday under the SupeRally format.

newsflash loeb out

[Yossarian]

ZOMG! Loeb goes off? Must have been a mistake with the pace notes.

Doesn't look like there is much snow this year. Wonder if everyone is losing their studs?

[SD_GR]

That could be. I'm thinking there will be more snow cover in the later stages though, but I am not sure.

Sweden is always an interesting event.

[Weasel 555]

Overall times after SS5:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 39mins 09.1secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 30.1secs M
3. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 37.7secs M
4. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 53.5secs M
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +01mins 12.8secs M
6. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC +01mins 44.0secs A8
7. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +01mins 44.5secs M
8. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 54.7secs A8
9. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Ford Focus WRC 06 +02mins 11.5secs A8
10. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +03mins 17.0secs P
11. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +03mins 36.5secs P
12. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +03mins 36.6secs P
13. Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +03mins 38.7secs A8
14. Jukka Ketomaki Subaru Impreza +03mins 47.9secs N4
15. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +03mins 57.0secs P
16. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +04mins 02.0secs P
17. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +04mins 22.7secs P
18. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC +04mins 23.0secs A8
19. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +04mins 24.7secs P
20. Oscar Svedlund Subaru Impreza +04mins 39.9secs P

Overall PWRC after SS5:

1. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 42mins 26.1secs P
2. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +00mins 19.5secs P
2. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +00mins 19.6secs P
4. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +00mins 40.0secs P
5. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +00mins 45.0secs P

crash.net SS5 news

[Weasel 555]

SS7 - Mangen 2 (22.09 km): Latvala fastest through SS7; Galli second; Sordo third; Ostberg fourth; Hirvonen fifth; Henning Solberg sixth; Aava stopped in the stage; Sandell heads the PWRC category; Latvala leads the overall event by 48 secs.

Overall times after SS7:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 1hour 02mins 03.7secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 48.0secs M
3. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +00mins 56.5secs M
4. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 03.4secs M
5. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +01mins 45.6secs M
6. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC +02mins 12.1secs A8
7. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +02mins 54.5secs A8
8. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +03mins 15.5secs M
9. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Ford Focus WRC 06 +04mins 00.0secs A8
10. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +05mins 04.8secs P
11. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +05mins 20.9secs P
12. Khalid Al-Qassimi BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +05mins 35.7secs A8
13. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +06mins 00.4secs P
14. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +06mins 09.1secs P
15. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC +06mins 09.8secs A8
16. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +06mins 22.4secs P
17. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +06mins 49.2secs P
18. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +06mins 57.7secs M
19. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +07mins 10.4secs P
20. Toshi Arai Subaru Impreza +07mins 21.6secs P

Overall PWRC after SS7:
1. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 1hour 07mins 08.5secs P
2. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +00mins 16.1secs P
3. Patrik Flodin Subaru Impreza +00mins 55.6secs P
4. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +01mins 04.3secs P
5. Andreas Aigner Mitsubishi Evo IX +01mins 17.6secs P

crash.net SS7

[SD_GR]

Look how tight the Fords are in the first few stages. It might be experience that wins this. If people are having grip issues with their winters it could be the guy that keeps it between the banks that sees podium.

[Weasel 555]

Overall times after SS13:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 1hour 50mins 14.9secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 55.2secs M
3. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +01mins 28.7secs M
4. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +02mins 37.3secs M
5. Matthew Wilson Stobart VK Ford Focus WRC 07 +04mins 15.9secs A8
6. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Ford Focus WRC 06 +04mins 31.6secs A8
7. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +06mins 51.3secs M
8. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +07mins 42.8secs P
9. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +07mins 48.2secs P
10. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +08mins 19.0secs M
11. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +08mins 57.0secs P
12. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +10mins 00.8secs P
13. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +11mins 02.4secs P
14. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +11mins 08.1secs M
15. Toshi Arai Subaru Impreza +11mins 40.9secs P
16. Conrad Rautenbach Citroen Xsara WRC +11mins 43.2secs A8
17. Armindo Araujo Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +11mins 59.0secs P
18. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC +12mins 48.2secs A8
19. Peter van Merkstejn Ford Focus RS WRC 06 +13mins 35.5secs A8
20. Ari Laivola Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +14mins 48.0secs N4

Overall PWRC after SS13:

1. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 1hour 57mins 57.7secs P
2. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +00mins 05.4secs P
3. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +01mins 14.2secs P
4. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 18.0secs P
5. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 19.6secs P

crash.net ss13

[Weasel 555]

BP Ford Abu Dhabi's Jari-Matti Latvala secured his maiden WRC win on the Uddeholm Swedish Rally on Sunday, the second round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Latvala took the lead on the first 'proper' stage and finished the opening loop 23 seconds ahead of his team-mate, Mikko Hirvonen, having made the most of his more favourable position in the running order.

The 22-year-old then proceeded to pull further ahead in the afternoon, when conditions were more even, and another three successive stage wins saw him increase the gap. He eventually finished day 1 with a 48.2 second advantage.

Jari maintained that cushion on Saturday even though conditions were especially challenging, as the mild weather meant there was little, if any snow and ice.

The Finn then paced himself to the finish on Sunday and claimed the victory by just under a minute. He now becomes the youngest driver to ever win a round of the championship, beating the late Henri Toivonen.

read more

Overall times after SS20 / Day 3 - Top 15:

1. Jari-Matti Latvala BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 2hours 46mins 41.2secs M
2. Mikko Hirvonen BP Ford Focus RS WRC 07 +00mins 58.3secs M
3. Gigi Galli Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +02mins 23.2secs M
4. Petter Solberg Subaru WRT Impreza WRC 2007 +02mins 59.4secs M
5. Andreas Mikkelsen Ramsport Ford Focus WRC 06 +05mins 46.0secs A8
6. Daniel Sordo Citroen Total WRT C4 WRC +07mins 13.1secs M
7. Toni Gardemeister Suzuki WRT SX4 WRC +10mins 35.3secs M
8. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV +12mins 27.5secs P
9. Mads Ostberg Adapta Subaru Impreza WRC +13mins 28.5secs A8
10. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +13mins 50.7secs P
11. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +14mins 19.3secs P
12. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +14mins 30.5secs P
13. Henning Solberg Stobart Ford Focus WRC 07 +15mins 36.7secs M
14. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +16mins 22.8secs P
15. Toshi Arai Subaru Impreza +16mins 50.4secs P

Overall PWRC after SS20 / Day 3 - Top 7:

1. Juho Hanninen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV 2hours 59mins 08.7secs P
2. Jari Ketomaa Subaru Impreza N14 +01mins 23.2secs P
3. Patrik Sandell Peugeot 207 +01mins 51.8secs P
4. Martin Prokop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +02mins 03.0secs P
5. Uwe Nittel Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +03mins 55.3secs P
6. Toshi Arai Subaru Impreza +04mins 22.9secs P
7. Armindo Araujo Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +06mins 05.2secs P

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Drivers:
1. MIKKO HIRVONEN - 16
2. SEBASTIEN LOEB - 10
= JARI-MATTI LATVALA - 10
4. PETTER SOLBERG - 9
= GIGI GALLI - 9
6. CHRIS ATKINSON - 6
7. FRANCOIS DUVAL - 5
8. ANDREAS MIKKELSEN - 4
9. DANIEL SORDO - 3
10. TONI GARDEMEISTER - 2

Manufacturers:
1. BP FORD ABU DHABI WORLD RALLY TEAM - 26
2. SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM - 16
= STOBART FORD RALLY TEAM - 16
4. CITROEN TOTAL - 15
5. SUZUKI - 5

Championship Tables