Rally Sweden 2022

[Danny0405]

Paradoxically, not a bad rally for Hyundai. Yeah, 2 big issues again (but one not necessarily coming from Hyundai) but their main chance to do something this year (Neuville in WDC) is the most spared driver for the moment. Neuville is not that far from Rovanpera in the WDC so if he can limit the loss in Croatia, he could be in the game after that with the series of gravel rallies.
The rhythm was quite good sometimes and Tanak will have good road positions for gravel (more to achieve wins that the championship IMO). For Solberg, the rally is rather good even if a drop in form + a technical issue on Day 2.

For Cinderella M-Sport, the coach is again a pumpkin. If some people seriously thought they could win a title this year, they’re back to reality.
Breen is not championship-material (especially with so few rallies driven in the last years) and Fourmaux and Greensmith are too soft.
Greensmith did a fair job as he was quite bad on snow and a pity for Fourmaux whose negative streak is still going even if not his fault this time.
The next 3-4 rallies will be complicated for them with Breen not having done the gravel ones for a while (and not convincing in Croatia last year) + Fourmaux who will need to finish first + Greensmith not having that good road position (neither do Breen compared with Ogier, Tanak or Evans).
More worrying, two engine failures.

For Toyota, it is clearly confirmed that the manufacturer title is in their pocket already,
Evans clearly disappointing so far: his «*new approach*» is clearly not working and the leadership is the team is at stake.
Great job by Rovanpera, let’s see if he can avoid a negative streak now.
Fair job by Lappi for a 1st drive this year, I think Toyota should have put him in Monte instead of Katsuta because he could have played a larger role; but ok, he brings the points needed.
Again a mistake for Katsuta but not a negative rally for him; he ends a negative streak with an average result and this time, he does not fail to take manufacturers points to Ford and Hyundai. Croatia will be complicated for him but with a steady drive there, it could give him back confidence for the gravel part.

In WRC-2, quite mitigated result; Mikkelsen has already put one hand on the title; the young Skoda bunch has already lost a lot of ground (2 bad results for Bulacia, 1 for Lindholm and Gryazin, 1 low result for Ingram in MC) so Toksport will need to follow with Mikkelsen to secure the title against Suninen, Rossel, Huttunen, Ostberg (not sure it was the initial plan).
For M-Sport, not that good also: Huttunen 3rd but no big rhythm and Adielsson DNF so a big loss in team championship.
Good drive from Veiby but too much at the limit.

In WRC-3, big fight between Armstrong and Joona won by the British which is a big blow.