Rally Sweden 14-17 FEB 2019

[tommeke_B]

Back from my sixth visit to Rally Sweden. Fantastic and well organized event, great atmosphere, and unique action. You hardly get used to the speed these guys are doing on the snow/ice. Tänak clearly too strong for competition, he knew what he was doing. We didn't see any big or very sideways moment from him, just neat and tidy driving, but super fast. Behind him a very nice battle, strong performance from nearly all works WRC drivers. Only disappointment for me was Pontus Tidemand, I expected him to be a bit closer to the top. The R5 category was also very interesting to watch. Shame that it's splitted up in WRC2Pro and WRC2, it doesn't add a real value (so far). Actually now Ostberg won WRC2Pro but has very little to celebrate, as he didn't win the R5 category... Top performance from Veiby, also the Polo R5 looks more entertaining than the Fabia R5. Also I'd like to mention the new Fiesta R2, really entertaining car to see, especially with the level of current junior drivers.

Few photos:











A few more: https://www.facebook.com/pg/rallyima...60403833971484

[AL14]

Back from my sixth visit to Rally Sweden. Fantastic and well organized event, great atmosphere, and unique action. You hardly get used to the speed these guys are doing on the snow/ice. Tänak clearly too strong for competition, he knew what he was doing. We didn't see any big or very sideways moment from him, just neat and tidy driving, but super fast. Behind him a very nice battle, strong performance from nearly all works WRC drivers. Only disappointment for me was Pontus Tidemand, I expected him to be a bit closer to the top. The R5 category was also very interesting to watch. Shame that it's splitted up in WRC2Pro and WRC2, it doesn't add a real value (so far). Actually now Ostberg won WRC2Pro but has very little to celebrate, as he didn't win the R5 category... Top performance from Veiby, also the Polo R5 looks more entertaining than the Fabia R5. Also I'd like to mention the new Fiesta R2, really entertaining car to see, especially with the level of current junior drivers.

Few photos:
[...]

I agree on all your points and I also like all your pictures.

[dimviii]

Suninen crash
https://youtu.be/lROYzdE2Oyc

[dimviii]

Devillers video
https://youtu.be/A-tJJBy3igg

JM video
https://youtu.be/ej5XvNAkzNY

[Rally Power]

Just saw the highlights. Despite the surprising early lead from Suninen, it seems that Sweden was mostly an amazing show of Tanak and the Yaris. I hope he’ll struggle a bit cleaning the road in Mexico and the competiton can raise their level; otherwise the WRC will probably be entering into another driver/car domination era...

[mknight]

Just saw the highlights. Despite the surprising early lead from Suninen, it seems that Sweden was mostly an amazing show of Tanak and the Yaris. I hope he’ll struggle a bit cleaning the road in Mexico and the competiton can raise their level; otherwise the WRC will probably be entering into another driver/car domination era...

Well I said so many times last year to all the Toyota cheering fans. Be careful what you wish for. 2003-2004 were close with many manufacturers as well and then it went to Citroen domination + 2 manus only within a few years. (but I also wrote a lot about Hyundai domination in first half of 2017 which luckily didn't happen)
That said everyone was expecting Toyota to dominate here last year but it did not happen due to conditions and road position, so maybe they would have been as good then as well.

In terms of competition I think Citroen is the most dangerous one. Yaris has always been great in fast stages and I20 in the slow and twisty ones, but C3 looks more and more like it can keep up with each of them on both types of stages. MSport obviously doesn't have the drivers to compete for championships. Hyundai looks more and more like the least allround car with list of stages/rallies where it is fast getting shorter and shorter.

[Rallyper]

Ah, ok. Everything fine then. You spend less time to write someone's name, than me trying to guess it?!? WTF. The American's culture sucked You in, that's it.

I spend my time writing about my favourite sport. Not to satify selfnamed teachers.

[Rallyper]

Here´s my coloured assesment of drivers in 2019 Rally Sweden, scale 1-10:

Ogier: 3. victim of the snowbanks. Big disappointment not only for himself.
Suninen: 4. Fast. But couldn´t handle speed all rally. So the early lead only proved him fast. Still needs to prove consistens.
Lappi: 8. Could have suffered most of all drivers, but got away with it. Podium payed off from his experience.
Meeke: 5. Did what he should do. No offs this year and his confidence still going up.
Tidemand: 3. Hard to say what was the tactics from the beginning. Not as fast as expected. Should fire up in next rally.
Tanak: 10. Just did a perfect job.
Latvala: 4. Too easy mistakes and the podium went away. Should have managed to keep himself on the road.
Neuville: 7. Mistakes make him loose precious time. Still a podium was good work in the end.
Loeb: 6. Second rally in the car. Master did what he was able to.
Mikkelsen: 5. Home event, was fast but did slide too much and couldn´t keep it up till the end.
Evans: 6. Surprisingly fast. But not on all stages.

[dupanton]

Had a great WRC Sweden, first time for me (but had a great guide in tommeke_b)
Moving pictures of the rally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOEZf7ht0bY

[stefanvv]

I spend my time writing about my favourite sport. Not to satify selfnamed teachers.

Teacher? Yes I do some teaching, but only in my everyday job. Rallying is just a hobby.

EDIT: And it's not about satisfaction, it's about making it readable. What's the point if no one reads it because doesn't understand it and just ignores it?