Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

WRC Rally Sweden shakedown relocated after objections

Rally Sweden will feature a new shakedown stage after protestors stood in the way of the original road on the outskirts of host city Karlstad

Local residents close to the planned shakedown stage were unhappy with the location and forced the organisers of next weekend's second round of the 2016 World Rally Championship to look elsewhere.

Swedish officials have now confirmed a new 2.72-mile test.

Rally Sweden CEO Glen Olsson said: "We have had many positive calls suggesting new stages after the problems we had with our initial choice.

"We are very pleased that this is now settled and we can focus on making a great event."

Having dealt with that issue, the event organisers' focus turned to contingency plans for the weather conditions.

Karlstad's superspecial was largely snow-free earlier this week, with rally officials counting on a forecast big freeze this weekend to ensure the stages were hard enough when the recce begins.

But temperatures have so far remained above freezing, leading to concerns about how much snow will feature on the stages when the rally begins.

The shakedown's move to Karlstad from its previous location much further north in Hagfors is among the route changes for 2016.

The crews will come back to Karlstad for overnight halts, meaning they start each day with a long road section north.

Friday's opening day of competition takes the event across the border for its usual day in Norway before a weekend of competition in the Varmland woods.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Why Toyota wants retro dream team
Next article WRC Rally Sweden could be cancelled due to warm weather

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe