2015 Rally Sweden - Preview

06.02.15

06.02.2015

 

RALLY SWEDEN
  

The second round of the FIA World Rally Championship is one of the fastest and most spectacular events on the calendar and is set in the snowy forests of Sweden and Norway. Beautiful scenery abounds, but competing in sub-zero temperatures requires specific preparation for both man and machinery. The cars, in particular, are equipped with special tyres that feature tungsten-tipped steel studs which provide amazing grip as they bite through the frozen road surface. For the crews, many can be seen wearing heated racing boots and anti-glare glasses, which provide greater definition of the snow covered landscape.

The entry list boasts 17 entrants in full-spec World Rally Car machinery, while a host of contenders have nominated Sweden as one of their point-scoring rounds in the FIA WRC 2 Championship. Just one Norwegian - Ole-Christian Veiby - has entered the WRC 3 Championship category in his two-wheel drive DS 3 R3-MAX but the youngster will doubtless be looking to impress on this dual-country event that spends one days in his homeland.

Stages 1, 14 and 21 - the Power Stage - will be broadcasted live on the international feed.

RALLY SWEDEN – ROUTE GRAPHICS
 
sweden map ss.png

THE 2015 ROUTE

Approximately one-third of this year’s route is different to 2014 and of the 11 individual stages four are either new or modified. The event kicks off with the familiar super special stage in Karlstad on Thursday evening and Friday takes in all the modified stages, most of which are in neighbouring Norway. Crews will be back on familiar ground on Saturday with classic stages for the longest day of the event, while Sunday takes in just two different stages, the second run through Värmullsåsen closing the rally as the Power Stage.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,441.57 km
308 km (21.4%)
21

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The accreditation centre is located at Rally HQ, Karlstad CCC, Karlstad. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 10 February
Wednesday 11 February
Thursday 12 February

14:00 – 20:00 hrs 
08:00 – 20:00 hrs
07:00 – 22:00 hrs

RALLY SWEDEN TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 11 February
Mandatory rally by rally photographers briefing,
Photographers’ Room

Thursday 12 February
Shakedown (P1 and P2 drivers)
Shakedown (P1, P2 and P3 drivers)
Shakedown (non-priority drivers)
Meet the Crews, WRC Stage, Service Park, Hagfors
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Karlstad
Autograph session, Super Special Stage, Karlstad
Opening Ceremony and presentation of drivers,
Super Special Stage
Rally Start and SSS1

Friday 13 February
First car arrives for regroup and Media Zone, Kirkenaer
First car arrives for regroup and Media Zone, Karlstad
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Hagfors
End of day ‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage,
Service Park, Hagfors

Saturday 14 February
First car arrives for mid-day service, regroup and
Media Zone, Hagfors
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Hagfors
Meet the Crews, WRC Stage, Service Park, Hagfors

Sunday 15 February
First car arrives for mid-day service, regroup and
Media Zone, Hagfors
First car arrives for final service, Hagfors
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Karlstad
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Karlstad


17:30 hrs



08:00-09:30 hrs
09:30-11:30 hrs
11:30-13:30 hrs
12:00 hrs
14:30 hrs
18:15 hrs-18h45 hrs
19:00 hrs

20:00 hrs


11:41 hrs
18:26 hrs
20:31 hrs
During the 45’ service



11:03 hrs

16:41 hrs
During the 45’ service


10:28 hrs

12:53 hrs
From 15:00 hrs
16:30 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 12 February







Sunday 15 February

Yazeed Al-Rajhi, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Pontus Tidemand, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Ole-Christian Veiby, FIA WRC 3 Championship
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport
Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Ott Tänak, M-Sport World Rally Team
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai Motorsport

Winning FIA WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the Michelin Experience WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the 45’ service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/world-rally-championship/2015/classifications

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/championship/world-rally-championship/2015/rally-sweden-stage-chart