NEWS | WRC | RALLY SWEDEN ENTRY LIST ANNOUNCED
25/01/2022Ahead of the second round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Sweden (24th-27th Feb), registration for the event closed today (25th) and the organisers previewed the provisional entrants.
Following the opening round in Monte Carlo, the focus now moves North in search of the Snow and Ice in Sweden. After a troubled couple of years, the Swedish Rally will make its return to the top flight of rallying from its new home in Umeå to the North of the country.
Whilst the WRC1 Class will be without its Champion, Sébastien Ogier, it will also not see a second appearance from Sébastien Loeb either.
Photo: Rally Swedden 2020 | Red Bull Content Pool
Photo: Elfyn Evans | Rally Monte Carlo 2022 | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
However, re-appearing on the scene will be Finlands Esapekka Lappi who will pick up Ogier’s Monte Carlo Yaris GR for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
He will join lead driver and 2020 Rally Sweden winner Elfyn Evans, 2020 Rally Swedens third-placed man Kalle Rovanperä along with Takamoto Katsuta in what is perhaps the strongest or favoured line-up for the rally?
M-SPORT FORD WRT
Meanwhile joining the factory M-Sport Ford line-up of Craig Breen, Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux will be M-Sports long time customer, Lorenzo Bertelli.
The Italian, who competed at the Arctic and Safari Rallies last year will take the honours of being the first private customer of a Hybrid Rally1 Puma.
It remains to be seen if M-Sport Ford can continue on the momentum from thier Mega Monta performance at the opening round without Loeb on their side.
Photo: Sébastien Loeb | M-Sport Ford WRT | Monte Carlo Rally 2022
Photo: Ott Tänak | Rally Monte Carlo 2022 | Hyundai | Red Bull Content Pool
HYUNDAI SHELL WRT
Looking to make a giegantic step forward in Sweden is Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT; who will once again field just three cars. Ott Tänak who won the 2019 edition of Rally Sweden on his way to his drivers’ title will be looking to make amends for his DNF on the Monte.
Thierry Neuville will be looking to re-create his 2018 Rally Sweden Victory and Oliver Solberg, who made his WRC debut for Hyundai on the Snow and Ice of The Arctic Rally Finland in 2021 (the substitute rally for Sweden) will also tackle the event.
The line up of Rally1 cars will consist of the following:
M-Sport Ford WRT, Ford Puma:
Craig Breen/Paul Nagle
Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria
Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson
Lorenzo Bertelli/Simone Scattolin
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT / NG, Toyota GR Yaris:
Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston
Elfy Evans/Scott Martin
Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen
Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Hyundai i20 N:
Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson
Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja
Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe
Photo: Rally Sweden 2019 | Red Bull Content Pool
WRC2
The WRC2 Championship will also resume in Sweden with Andreas Mikkelsen continuing on in his title defence for TokSport WRT.
Making their return to the WRC2 Championship will be M-Sport Ford WRT, who will field two Rally2 Fiesta with Finlands Jari Huttenun making his return to M-Sport and the Series.
Toksport WRT:
Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksson, Skoda Fabia Evo.
Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov, Skoda Fabia Evo.
Marco Bulacia/Marcelo Der Ohannesian, Skoda Fabia Evo.
M-Sport Ford WRT:
Jari Huttunen/Mikka Lukka, Ford Fiesta
Mattias Adielsson/David Arhusiander, Ford Fiesta
