[WRC] Rally Sweden 2026

**PLuto** · 7th February 2026, 11:12

During pre-event testing for Rally Sweden on Friday, Yuki Yamamoto and James Fulton went off the road. After medical checks, both were advised to rest and recover, and therefore they are unable to take part in the competition. We wish them a speedy recovery.

**Rallyper** · 8th February 2026, 08:28

I noticed in the startlist there´s a spaniard named Nicolas Otto Boehringer in WRC3 #59.

In the 60´there was driver for the Mercedes team named Eugen Boehringer. I watched him live in the Midnight sun rally, as 8 yrs old fan...
Maybe no connection at all, but also possible the old man is grandgrandfather or so.
Just curiosity...

**BleAivano** · 8th February 2026, 10:41

Originally Posted by Rallyper

I haven´t been to Umeå for Rally Sweden, but still can´t think of why it is questioned.

Having said that ddoesn´t mean the rally could move. Östersund should be the place or why not Falun? However we should be happy there´s still a Rally Sweden.

Yeah, for a Swedish winter round in the WRC there aren't much choices if you want access to hotels, travels accessibility and etc and at the same time have a snow guarantee.

**WRCStan** · 8th February 2026, 11:06

To Eli's point about it not being interesting, I agree. There's no points of interest or contribution to rally culture apart from the name Brattby and Craig quoting it. Maybe I am also wrong because I don't remember anything else about it after each year. That doesn't make it bad competition, bad host, must be moved, not worth having... it's just a little characterless apart from having snow.

Not to pick a fight but Estonia and Latvia is worse. The support is fantastic but the only thing I remember is the heras fencing outside that house. Maybe uninterestingness is a feature of fast rallies.

**Rallyper** · 8th February 2026, 11:12

Originally Posted by WRCStan

To Eli's point about it not being interesting, I agree. There's no points of interest or contribution to rally culture apart from the name Brattby and Craig quoting it. Maybe I am also wrong because I don't remember anything else about it after each year. That doesn't make it bad competition, bad host, must be moved, not worth having... it's just a little characterless apart from having snow.

Not to pick a fight but Estonia and Latvia is worse. The support is fantastic but the only thing I remember is the heras fencing outside that house. Maybe uninterestingness is a feature of fast rallies.

Well, they have the Red Barn Arena which is at least one place to recognize and remember. I guess you would love to have a new Colins Crest somewhere on the stages? That I can agree on.

**WRCStan** · 8th February 2026, 11:25

Good point Per, I do remember the arena upon prompt, but I prefer a rally to have character in real, drivable roads also used outside of the rally. A rally should be a visitor to a location. Like the jumps added in Estonia and Ruuhhimaki in Finland etc, I'm not a big fan of manufactured routes to suit TV cameras - apart from super specials, because you can do that anywhere.

**hari** · 8th February 2026, 12:45

Going to my 16th Rally Sweden this year (4th in Umea) this is my view:

For people from abroad it's definitely much easier now. With airport Umea just some kilometres outside of the city and with accomodation in Umea you have the shakedown, powerstage, evenings superstages, servicepark etc. everything in walking distance if you want.

Also the rest of the route is very compact. No comparison to the old days in Värmland with those neverending liaisons to Norway etc. The stages are similar easy to access. The amount of spectators is definitely less in the north, but that made everything also easier with parking etc. in the first years. It's visible growing each year.

The stages have a little bit other character and maybe miss some of those legendary places for now. But once out in the forest there is not much a different atmosphere.

The Umea Stage with its final kilometers at the Red Barn Arena is definitely much much better, than any Superstage in Karlstad ever was.

So If I would have to decide, I would now choose Umea. The legency can grow with more and more rallys driven there. But the nerve-wrecking waiting if it is cold enough in Värmland or not was just awful in the 2010s. But all the rallys there was also great.