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David Evans
At this point it's criminal it's took us so long to introduce our man on the ground at Rally Sweden, Autosport and Motorsport News Rallies Editor DAVID EVANS. Here's the kind of insight you can expect.
"The 15-inch Rally Sweden-specific tyres are fitted with 384 tungsten-tipped studs. The studs are seven-mil long. Before we go any further, we should talk tungsten – this is something which will be mentioned a lot this week.
"What is it? Tungsten is an incredibly strong metal element. Strong like properly strong; strong like melting point of 3695 degrees – way higher than any other metal. Originally derived from the Swedish words tung sten, a direct translation is heavy stone.
"The use of tungsten means the 1536 biting points between a World Rally Car and mother earth will be as strong as physically (and chemically) possible. But still, the studs will get worn down when the gravel starts showing through the ice and then flicked out of the tyres when the gravel really comes through."
Riveting. See what we did there?
"The 15-inch Rally Sweden-specific tyres are fitted with 384 tungsten-tipped studs. The studs are seven-mil long. Before we go any further, we should talk tungsten – this is something which will be mentioned a lot this week.
"What is it? Tungsten is an incredibly strong metal element. Strong like properly strong; strong like melting point of 3695 degrees – way higher than any other metal. Originally derived from the Swedish words tung sten, a direct translation is heavy stone.
"The use of tungsten means the 1536 biting points between a World Rally Car and mother earth will be as strong as physically (and chemically) possible. But still, the studs will get worn down when the gravel starts showing through the ice and then flicked out of the tyres when the gravel really comes through."
Riveting. See what we did there?
Twitter
Twitter
Twitter
This has to be the first time a Mazda 323 has appeared in here. Here's Timo Salonen/Seppo Harjanne on their way to victory on Rally Sweden 30 years ago (is 1987 really 30 years ago?!)
We've got a short gap now, so what better to do than for Autosport Live to provide the best wake up service in the world.
Some people drink coffee, we provide pictures of retro rally cars...
Some people drink coffee, we provide pictures of retro rally cars...
Checkered flag
And your overall leaderboard after two stages:
1 Neuville 11m12s
2 Tanak +3s
3 Meeke +3.4s
4 Latvala +4s
5 Ostberg +5.5s
6 Sordo +7.5s
1 Neuville 11m12s
2 Tanak +3s
3 Meeke +3.4s
4 Latvala +4s
5 Ostberg +5.5s
6 Sordo +7.5s
Checkered flag
With the pacesetters through, here's the leading times from SS2:
1 Neuville 9m37.3s
2 Meeke +2s
3 Tanak +2.8s
4 Latvala +4.6s
5 Ostberg +4.9s
6 Evans +7s
1 Neuville 9m37.3s
2 Meeke +2s
3 Tanak +2.8s
4 Latvala +4.6s
5 Ostberg +4.9s
6 Evans +7s
Stopwatch
Mads Ostberg is our last frontrunning 2017 WRC car to complete the stage and he's fifth quickest, 4.9s slower than Neuville.
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An immaculate looking C3 WRC arrives at stage end.
"It felt good," says Meeke. "It was a bit slippery if you got off line. We had good grip. I was bedding myself in a bit there and didn't want to do anything stupid."
Encouraging signs for our British fans.
"It felt good," says Meeke. "It was a bit slippery if you got off line. We had good grip. I was bedding myself in a bit there and didn't want to do anything stupid."
Encouraging signs for our British fans.
Stopwatch
Kris Meeke arrives and he's second quickest, 2s down on Neuville. Positive signs for the Citroen team after a disappointing Rally Monte Carlo.
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With that, Neuville takes the lead of the rally. But we're waiting for a Northern Irishman...
"It's OK. It was jumping a lot, I'm not sure about the suspension on the rear," says Neuville. "I tried to pick a line and be smooth. Could be better."
To clarify, it didn't sound like Neuville's suspension was broken, sounded more like a set-up issue.
"It's OK. It was jumping a lot, I'm not sure about the suspension on the rear," says Neuville. "I tried to pick a line and be smooth. Could be better."
To clarify, it didn't sound like Neuville's suspension was broken, sounded more like a set-up issue.
Stopwatch
Given Thierry's final split, we can assume the last split is improving for the cars further back. That means we must watch Kris Meeke who was rapid at the first split.
Stopwatch
HE CAN! Neuville goes quickest, 2.8s up on Tanak. The Belgian picking up where he left off in Monte Carlo.
Stopwatch
Thierry Neuville is a second slower than Tanak at the last split. Can he claw that back in the last section?
Stopwatch
Hello Kris Meeke! Not quite quickest through the first split, but the Northern Irishman is the second quickest man at that point.
If Evans second split was down to favourable conditions, then Meeke's going to be a challenger for the stage win here.
If Evans second split was down to favourable conditions, then Meeke's going to be a challenger for the stage win here.
Stopwatch
Elfyn Evans is in 4.2s down overall on Tanak.
That's incredible given he was 13s down on Tanak at the first split.
It was really nice," says Evans. "It was loose in places. There's places to improve.
"On the whole it was OK."
That's incredible given he was 13s down on Tanak at the first split.
It was really nice," says Evans. "It was loose in places. There's places to improve.
"On the whole it was OK."
Neuville is the next driver for us to keep an eye on. He's 2.2s down on Tanak at the first split, he's the closest person to the Estonian at that point.
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Craig Breen is the next driver to complete, 6s down on Tanak in his first stage in the 2017-spec Citroen C3 WRC.
"Bit of an eye opener," says Breen. "The car was awesome, it's just trying to get everything out of it over every kilometre."
"Bit of an eye opener," says Breen. "The car was awesome, it's just trying to get everything out of it over every kilometre."
Stopwatch
Elfyn Evans is the first driver through slower than Ogier at the first split, and he's 13s down on Tanak at that point.
Dani Sordo completes the stage third quickest and 4.6s down on Tanak. He repeats Tanak's thoughts about struggling to see.
Dani Sordo completes the stage third quickest and 4.6s down on Tanak. He repeats Tanak's thoughts about struggling to see.
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Here's Tanak, quickest so far. He's 1.8s quicker than Latvala and 7.9s up on team-mate Ogier.
"It's bloody slippery and the daylight is a bit difficult," says Tanak. The daylight he refers to is the sky is grey and matches the white ground, making it difficult for the drivers to see the edges of the road.
"It's bloody slippery and the daylight is a bit difficult," says Tanak. The daylight he refers to is the sky is grey and matches the white ground, making it difficult for the drivers to see the edges of the road.
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Latvala is lacking confidence over those yumpy crests Elfyn Evans told us about earlier. Still, 6.1s up on Ogier.
"The car is very good to drive," says Latvala. "I'm happy with the car. On the long straights with the bumps, the car doesn't feel good. Other than that it's perfect."
"The car is very good to drive," says Latvala. "I'm happy with the car. On the long straights with the bumps, the car doesn't feel good. Other than that it's perfect."
Stopwatch
Latvala has completed the stage, six seconds quicker than Ogier on the stage.
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Ogier completes the stage in 9m48s.
"Tricky in the narrow sections," he says. "Not a bad stage for us, we'll do what we can. It's difficult but we'll do what we can."
Sounds like he's expecting a bit of time loss while he runs first on the road today.
"Tricky in the narrow sections," he says. "Not a bad stage for us, we'll do what we can. It's difficult but we'll do what we can."
Sounds like he's expecting a bit of time loss while he runs first on the road today.
Stopwatch
Sordo is the third consecutive driver to be quicker than Ogier at the first split. Forgive us for getting a bit excited about that but it doesn't happen too often.
And at the second split, Tanak is 8.2s quicker than Ogier. The bookmakers will like this!
And at the second split, Tanak is 8.2s quicker than Ogier. The bookmakers will like this!
Stopwatch
Latvala is another couple of seconds up on Ogier at the second split totalling 6.2s over the course of the stage to that point.
If Ogier is struggling because of the road conditions, it could well throw up some interesting times for those further down the order...
If Ogier is struggling because of the road conditions, it could well throw up some interesting times for those further down the order...
Stopwatch
And more Ogier loss! Ott Tanak, the Frenchman's team-mate, has taken 6.3s out of Ogier. Is he struggling as first on the road?
That's not the first split we were expecting this morning.
Jari-Matti Latvala has reached the first split 4.3s QUICKER than Sebastien Ogier. That's good signs for someone vetoing Ogier dominance.
Jari-Matti Latvala has reached the first split 4.3s QUICKER than Sebastien Ogier. That's good signs for someone vetoing Ogier dominance.
Ogier is already at the first split, these 2017 cars are quick. He gets to the marker in 3m04.6s.
Latvala – rally leader – is also into the stage as is Ott Tanak.
Latvala – rally leader – is also into the stage as is Ott Tanak.
HERE WE GO! Sebastien Ogier, championship leader, is into the stage.
And speaking of the stage, who better than Welshman and DMACK Ford Fiesta WRC driver ELFYN EVANS to give us our stage descriptions for the day. Here’s what to expect from the stage which kicks off in a minutes time.
SS2/5 Rojden (11.47 miles)
"This is a really nice stage. It’s medium-width, car-and-a-bit wide for most of the time, but it’s quite fast and flowing with some yumpy crests in the first half.
"These places are quite technical, the line has to be just right through there. That style of road continues until about two-and-a-half miles from the finish when you slot through a gate – I think it’s one of the border gates going from Sweden to Norway – and then it goes really, really fast with some long corners before it gets really narrow uphill and. This is the place where I got wedged two years ago.
"It’s on this really twisty section to the finish where there’s the most snow and the biggest snowbanks. But I don’t think we’ll be using the banks that much, it looks a like you might be staying in there if you give them too much of a nudge."
SS2/5 Rojden (11.47 miles)
"This is a really nice stage. It’s medium-width, car-and-a-bit wide for most of the time, but it’s quite fast and flowing with some yumpy crests in the first half.
"These places are quite technical, the line has to be just right through there. That style of road continues until about two-and-a-half miles from the finish when you slot through a gate – I think it’s one of the border gates going from Sweden to Norway – and then it goes really, really fast with some long corners before it gets really narrow uphill and. This is the place where I got wedged two years ago.
"It’s on this really twisty section to the finish where there’s the most snow and the biggest snowbanks. But I don’t think we’ll be using the banks that much, it looks a like you might be staying in there if you give them too much of a nudge."
Here’s your starting order for the day:
Sebastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Craig Breen (Citroen C3 WRC)
Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen DS 3 WRC)
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Juho Hanninen (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Kris Meeke (Citroen C3 WRC)
Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Sebastien Ogier (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Craig Breen (Citroen C3 WRC)
Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC)
Stephane Lefebvre (Citroen DS 3 WRC)
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Juho Hanninen (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Kris Meeke (Citroen C3 WRC)
Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 WRC)
Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta WRC)
First off a look at last night’s opener. Finn Jari-Matti Latvala topped the time sheets by 0.6s from Monte Carlo pacesetter Thierry Neuvile.
Good morning and welcome back to Autosport Live’s World Rally Championship coverage.
We’re here for Rally Sweden, and good news, there’s snow! See above.
We’re here for Rally Sweden, and good news, there’s snow! See above.
By: Matt Beer
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