Some comments about the conditions:
When the drivers on Tuesday took on the reconnaissance special stages east of Hagfors, it was undoubtedly the gravel on the roads that all the talk was about.
- At the moment this seems to be quite tough conditions. You have to remember to save the tires, "said Petter Solberg.
- It's almost just gravel, and once within the snow, it is very soft, "says Dani Sordo.
- It looks okay. Things are not so good, especially on the last leg, "said Sébastien Loeb during matuppehållet where his comment was aimed at special stage 19 Lesjöfors.
- There was such deep scars that it is a bit like driving a train. When you look at the major roads, it seems like there is a lot of snow, but it is quite different on the small roads, "continued the Frenchman.
- I'm a bit disappointed. It is a bit too gravelly, I think the organiser should have been out and watered the roads. But I should not complain, it's the same for everyone, " was Marcus Grönholm's reply.
The problem, ironically enough is that the winter was too good. The cold usually comes after a period of sleet weather which usually gives a nice level of ice underneath the gravel roads. But it was to cold for the ice level to develop properly.
- This year, it has been a very cold winter, "explains race director Bertil Klarin. It hasn't been above zero since it has started to snow.
Indeed it has been watered, but only in three places: the sub-super special at Färjestad racetrack, also at the newly constructed road at Värmullsåsen in Hagfors, and thirdly also the entrance of the new Viggen distance.
- There is asphalt, so we had to get a bit of ice on there.
• What about Gronholm's proposal?
- I do not think Marcus knows what it means if one is to irrigate 33 miles of special stages. It is quite impossible. We must therefore rely on nature, and this year it has given us zero temperatures and snow.
Another area of concern for the drivers is the new drive tires from Pirelli. We have only used them at one Rally before, Rally Norway last year, and at that stage the level of ice underneath the snow was perfect.
- It will be very difficult, especially when there is so much gravel and only a little bit of snow on top of the roads. If one is to hit some patches of ice, combined with the gravel it can become very slippery, "said Petter Solberg.
- I think it will be important to save the tires, we have not tested much under these conditions, "said Loeb who like Grönholm preferred the watered-ice roads more then the other roads.
- There has certainly been better. I understand that the organisers might perhaps not have the money to fully water the roads, but it definitely would have been the better option.
Dani Sordo, who comes from the back of a victory at the Arctic Lapland Rally a week and a half ago, has an even more drastic proposal.
- It (the Arctic Rally) had perfect conditions, real ice. Perhaps it (Arctic Rally) should rather be in the world championship next year, instead?