[WRC] Rally Sweden 2026

[WRCStan]

Recommended reading for/from Kaizen Katsuta

[240RS]

Thierry Neuville must have wrung every last ounce from that i20.

He probably doesn't get enough credit for the effort he puts when his back is up the wall.

[Morte66]

I wrote this before the PS. I did think about posting it before to see how big a fool I could be, but decided to keep my powder dry.


Evans did the business.

Katsuta very good. I’d be sorry for his tyre problems, or whatever they were, if I wasn’t an Evans fan. I never really took him seriously, but I'm coming to think he could win Sweden one year when the stars align.

Neuville, Fourmaux were fine in the circumstances.

Lappi finished the rally without issues in a decent position, looking quietly competent, which is exactly what the team wants from a third driver. Why couldn’t he do this when he was full time?

Pajari looking better than he has. But no “Pajari, future champion?” thread based on this.

Enni Malkonen nearly beat Pajari. Maybe she’s a good influence, and Sami should get her back? He went downhill after they parted, you know…

Armstrong showed real speed and stayed on the road. Right now he looks like he could have a career like Neuville, or a career like Lappi. We will see.

Solberg… Was fast at the start, but went off so maybe he was too fast, but got back on. After that, not so different from the rest of Toyota overall but with more risk. Still an unknown quantity.

Sesks did some fast stages. But after bad luck happens too many times, one starts to wonder whether it’s luck.


I feel like Solberg could be the next Tanak and Sesks could be the next Meeke, but it could also be the other way round.


I don’t think championship points matter much right now. Whoever leads the championship after Japan will be punished for leading it. Championship race starts around Chile.


Have you noticed how Evans hasn’t been putting a hat on before talking in stage end interviews? No sponsorship, I guess?

[wwbroe]

Does anyone have calculated championship points?

[deephouse]

The driver of the weekend is clearly Pajari. I think his first win can come sooner than later. Maybe before Katsuta or Fourmaux will snatch it. Who knows.

The one thing about championships is clear, even if we are so early in season. Toyota will be manufacturer champion and Toyota driver will win driver's championship.

Regarding Sesks. He is fast but sadly uncosistent still. But what can we expect, he doesn't even have opportunity to contest full time, so he is trying to impress. If we compare him to McErlean, it so obvious he should be sitting it that car and McErlean in 3rd.

Solberg have so many off this weekend and if that boy wasn't the luckiest one.

[doubled1978]

Evans looks like he means business this year, very good drive again.
Katsuta, weird with yesterday morning issues, but otherwise very good, not really any 'moments' either.
Pajari, good recovery much needed after MC. Needs to put a full rally at top pace together though.
Fourmaux, pretty good once they changed the car and best Hyundai again.
Lappi, really good job after a while away. Let's see how he goes on the other rallies he does. He's a good guy and a positive for the series.
Neuville, bit anonymous but a great power stage. Needs a good Safari.
Armstrong, looks more at home at WRC pace than either McErlean or Munster straight away. He has something about him.
McErlean, I think it's becoming clear that WRC pace is a bit beyond him sadly. He really needs to maximise some of the gravel rallies where he will have a good start position on Friday to show us otherwise.
Sesks, The lad clearly has some pace, but the bad luck is following him around like a bad smell. I hope he gets a few good runs in during the summer as I think he could win rallies with his speed.

[Morte66]

Does anyone have calculated championship points?

https://www.wrc.com/en/results-and-s...ship-standings

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Great job by Elfyn, never put a wheel wrong. He's now a 3x Sweden winner which is a fine achievement.

He leads the Championship now and so will have to road sweep in Safari. Ogier will be happy.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

DirtFish @DirtFishRally

Toyota has repeated a feat only Audi has previously achieved: locking out the podium in the first two rounds of a WRC season.

[focus206]

The gap between Toyota and Hyundai seems even bigger this year. I bet Thierry can't wait to stop driving this iteration of the i20. If to retire or to try the 2027 cars I don't know. Fourmaux must be disappointed too. Unless the car has amazing pace on gravel (it won't), good luck fighting for titles with it.

Seems that Evans understood that consistency alone isn't going to cut it, he needs this kind of speed as well. Let's see if this year he'll make it against Ogier and Solberg.