Rally Sweden: Drivers Prepare for Challenge
In a competitive display at the Umeå Sprint stage, Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin clocked a time of 5.16 kilometers, finishing just half a second ahead of their Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen. The icy conditions favored those starting early, allowing Evans to take advantage of a fresh road.
Hyundai Drivers Close Behind
Hyundai's Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja also put in strong performances, finishing tied with Rovanperä but placed third due to timing regulations. Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria followed closely in fourth place, trailing by 1.2 seconds.
Notable Performances from Other Teams
Defending champion Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe secured the fifth fastest time, finishing 3.7 seconds behind Evans. They were closely followed by Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, along with Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, who demonstrated commendable speed.
M-Sport Ford's rookie duo, Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy, achieved the eighth fastest time in their second Rally1 appearance, outpacing Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka by three seconds, while Martins Sesks and Renars Francis rounded out the top ten.
WRC2 Highlights
In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg and co-driver Elliot Edmondson set a competitive pace, defeating fellow Swedes Pontus Tidemand and Jorgen Eriksen by a margin of 1.4 seconds. Earlier, Neuville had topped the shakedown stage times, showcasing his competitiveness alongside Sesks, Tänak, Fourmaux, and Evans.
Elfyn Evans
Scott Martin
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Kalle Rovanperä
Jonne Halttunen
Hyundai
Ott Tänak
Martin Järveoja
Adrien Fourmaux
Alex Coria
Thierry Neuville
Martijn Wydaeghe
Takamoto Katsuta
Aaron Johnston
Sami Pajari
Marko Salminen
M-Sport Ford
Josh McErlean
Eoin Treacy
Grégoire Munster
Louis Louka
Martins Sesks
Renars Francis
WRC2
Oliver Solberg
Elliot Edmondson
Pontus Tidemand
Jorgen Eriksen