Rally Sweden 2015

 Rally Sweden 2015

Racing data
2nd of 13 rounds of the 2015 World Rally Championship
Surname:	Rally Sweden
Date:	12-15 February 2015
Begin:	Karlstad
Exams:	21 tests over 309.68 km
Distance:	1441.57 km
Covering:	Asphalt, ice, snow
Podium
First:	Sébastien Ogier Volkswagen Motorsport
Second:	Thierry Neuville Hyundai World Rally Team
Third:	Andreas Mikkelsen Volkswagen Motorsport

The 63rd Rally Sweden lasted from February 12th to 15th, 2015. A total of 21 special stages were driven on snow and ice.

Reports

Sébastien Ogier 2015 in Sweden

Day 1 (Thursday, February 12)

The Rally Sweden started on Thursday evening with a short first special stage in Karlstad . On a total of 1.9 kilometers, an artificial course on a horse racing track, pairs were competed against each other. The eagerly awaited duel was Volkswagen against Citroën. At the finish line, Mads Østberg was just ahead of Sébastien Ogier . The winner of the test was surprisingly a driver from the WRC2 class: Pontus Tidemand took first place with a Ford Fiesta RRC .

Day 2 (Friday, February 13th)

The battle for the first places was fought for a long time among the Volkswagen drivers. Sébastien Ogier took the lead on the second special stage, which he had to give up a few kilometers before the end of the first day. Ogier turned into a snow wall on the ninth special stage and got stuck for a short time. Later, after a brief repair of the windshield wiper, the bonnet cracked open while driving, breaking the windshield. He hadn't fastened the hood properly after the repair. Ogier started Saturday in fourth, 24.7 seconds behind the leaders. The dream of a fourth victory in Sweden for Jari-Matti Latvala also ended on the ninth SS . He had taken the virtual lead, but got off the track a few hundred meters from the finish line and lost around nine minutes. The three winners came through the snow in Sweden almost without a mistake. Andreas Mikkelsen (Volkswagen) led the overall standings with 19.1 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and 19.4 seconds ahead of Mads Østberg (Citroën).

3rd day (Saturday, February 14th)

Before the last four special stages on Sunday, Andreas Mikkelsen was only 1.5 seconds behind the leader Thierry Neuville . Sébastien Ogier followed in third place, 9.6 seconds behind. When jumping “Colin's Crest”, named after the late Colin McRae , Neuville flew the furthest at 44 meters. But certainly more important for Neuville, in the last special stage of the day he took the lead in the overall classification and overtook Mikkelsen. Mads Østberg lost third place when he got into a snow bank on the first special stage of the day and damaged his left rear tire. Transmission problems also slowed him down all day. Østberg lost 53.4 seconds to the top during the day and was fourth in the evening. They were followed by Ott Tänak in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in fifth and Hayden Paddon in sixth in the Hyundai i20 WRC . Paddon replaced Hyundai regular driver Dani Sordo at this world championship race , who broke a few ribs when he fell off his bike a week before the rally.

"That was one of the best special stages I've ever driven."

- Thierry Neuville : wrc.com

4th day (Sunday, February 15th)

The decision about winning the Rally Sweden was made a few hundred meters from the finish in the last special stage. Sébastien Ogier had secured the fastest time over the last 16 kilometers and thus made the victory perfect for Volkswagen. But until the last interim time, team mate Andreas Mikkelsen was leading with a margin of just 2.7 seconds. Only 5.3 kilometers from the finish, Mikkelsen passed a cross-stand and a resulting spin put an end to the hope for victory. At least it was enough for the second podium result in a row. The slip cost around 40 seconds, at the end of the rally that meant third place. The Rally Sweden also showed what progress Hyundai has made in one year. Thierry Neuville and his teammates were still driving the old model from 2014. Twelve months ago there was no Hyundai in the top 10 in Sweden. This weekend, all three Hyundai i20s crossed the finish line. After 21 tests, Neuville was just 4.6 seconds short of winner Ogier. The weekend was rather disappointing for Citroën, with Kris Meeke coming in seventh and Mads Østberg in tenth.

WRC2

In WRC2 , Jari Ketomaa took the lead on Friday morning and never gave it up afterwards. Eyvind Brynildsen came in second, 32.6 seconds behind, and ensured a one-two for the Drive DMACK team. Brynildsen drove an almost flawless rally and held up against Valeriy Gorban in the Mini John Cooper. Ultimately, the Norwegian was 2: 54.8 minutes ahead of the Ukrainian, who had to give up second place on Saturday when he slipped off the track. Yazeed Al-Rajhi finished fourth ahead of Pontus Tidemand . Tidemand, overall leader after the first special stage on Thursday evening, attacked after a slip on Friday, in the end he was 3.3 seconds short of Al Rajhi. Fredrik Åhlin dropped from third to sixth on the penultimate special stage. He switched himself and therefore drove into a snow bank. After the Rally Sweden, Stéphane Lefebvre and Jari Ketoma were in the lead with 25 points each, ahead of Craig Breen with 18 points in the World Championship standings.

Registration list

Vehicles not registered as WRC, WRC-2 and WRC-3 were not included in this list.

No driver Co-driver team automobile class 1 Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Polo R WRC WRC RC1 2 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen Polo R WRC WRC RC1 3 Kris Meeke Paul Nagle Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën DS3 WRC WRC RC1 4th Mads Østberg Jonas Andersson Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT Citroën DS3 WRC WRC RC1 5 Elfyn Evans Daniel Barritt M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 6th Ott Tanak Raigo Mölder M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 7th Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 WRC WRC RC1 8th Hayden Paddon John Kennard Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 WRC WRC RC1 9 Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Floene Volkswagen Motorsport II Volkswagen Polo R WRC WRC RC1 14th Henning Solberg Ilka Minor Henning Solberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 16 Robert Kubica Maciej Szczepaniak RK World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 17th Yuriy Protasov Pavlo Cherepin D-Max Swiss Citroën DS3 WRC WRC RC1 18th Michal Solowow Maciej Baran Synthos Cersanit RT Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 20th Kevin Abbring Sebastian Marshall Hyundai Motorsport N Hyundai i20 WRC WRC RC1 21st Martin Prokop Jan Tománek Jipocar ​​Czech National Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 32 Yazeed Al-Rajhi Michael Orr Yazeed Racing Ford Fiesta RRC WRC-2 RC2 32 Stéphane Lefebvre Stéphane Prévot PH Sports Citroën DS3 R5 WRC-2 RC2 33 Massimiliano Rendina Mario Pizzuti Massimiliano Rendina Citroën DS3 R5 WRC-2 RC2 36 Fredrik Åhlin Erik Morten Abrahamsen Fredrik Åhlin Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 RC2 37 Lorenzo Bertelli Giovanni Bernacchini FWRT srl Ford Fiesta RS WRC WRC RC1 38 Not Grøndal Roger Eilertsen Not Grøndal Citroën DS3 R5 WRC-2 RC2 39 Pontus Tidemand Patrik Barth Pontus Tidemand Ford Fiesta RRC WRC-2 RC2 40 Jari Ketomaa Kaj Lindström Drive Dmack Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 RC2 41 Valeriy Gorban Volodymyr Corsia Eurolamp WRT Mini Cooper S2000 1.6T WRC-2 RC2 42 Oleksiy Kikireshko Kuldar Sikk Eurolamp WRT Mini Cooper S2000 1.6T WRC-2 RC2 43 Radik Shaymiev Maxim Tsvetkov TAIF Rally Team Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 RC2 44 Yaroslav Koltun Ireneusz Pleskot C rally Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 RC2 45 Gianluca Linari Nicola Arena Gianluca Linari Subaru Impreza STi R4 WRC-2 RC2 46 Edoardo Bresolin Rudy Plollet Edoardo Bresolin Ford Fiesta R5 WRC-2 RC2 53 Ole Christian Veiby Not so Jaeger Printsport Oy Citroën DS3 R3T WRC-3 RC3 71 Eyvind Brynildsen Not so Fredriksson Drive Dmack Ford Fiesta RRC WRC-2 RC2 81 Simone Tempestini Matteo Chiarcossi Napoca Rally Academy Subaru Impreza STi WRC-2 RC2 82 Eamonn Boland Joseph Michael Morrissey Eamonn Boland Subaru Impreza STi R4 WRC-2 RC2 Source:

Icon class WRC WRC works teams and private teams registered for manufacturer points WRC Factory teams and private teams registered for non-manufacturer points WRC-2 Registered for WRC-2 WRC-3 Registered for WRC-3 (JWRC)

Classifications

Bottom line

rank	driver	Co-driver	automobile	time	Residue	Points + Power Stage
WRC
01	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	2: 55: 30.5		25 + 3
02	Thierry Neuville	Nicolas Gilsoul	Hyundai i20 WRC	2: 55: 36.9	0: 06.4	18 + 2
03	Andreas Mikkelsen	Ola Fløene	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	2: 56: 10.3	0: 39.8	15th
04th	Ott Tanak	Raigo Mölder	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	2: 57: 56.5	2: 26.0	12
05	Hayden Paddon	John Kennard	Hyundai i20 WRC	2: 59: 02.0	3: 31.5	10
06th	Elfyn Evans	Daniel Barritt	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	2: 59: 23.5	3: 53.0	8th
07th	Kris Meeke	Paul Nagle	Citroën DS3 WRC	2: 59: 36.3	4: 05.8	6th
08th	Martin Prokop	Jan Tománek	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	2: 59: 56.5	4: 26.0	4th
09	Yuriy Protasov	Pavlo Cherepin	Citroën DS3 WRC	3: 01: 02.7	5: 32.2	2
10	Mads Østberg	Jonas Andersson	Citroën DS3 WRC	3: 02: 21.4	6: 50.9	1 + 1
WRC2
01 (14)	Jari Ketomaa	Kaj Lindström	Ford Fiesta R5	3: 05: 07.4	9: 36.9	25th
02 (15)	Eyvind Brynildsen	Not so Fredriksson	Ford Fiesta RRC	3: 05: 40.0	10: 09.5	18th
03 (16)	Valeriy Gorban	Volodymyr Corsia	Mini Cooper S2000 1.6T	3: 08: 34.8	13: 04.3	15th
04 (17)	Yazeed Al-Rajhi	Michael Orr	Ford Fiesta RRC	3: 08: 47.6	13: 17.1	12
05 (18)	Pontus Tidemand	Patrik Barth	Ford Fiesta RRC	3: 08: 50.9	13: 20.4	10
06 (19)	Fredrik Åhlin	Erik Morten Abrahamsen	Ford Fiesta R5	3: 09: 42.0	14: 11.5	8th
07 (24)	Yaroslav Koltun	Ireneusz Pleskot	Ford Fiesta R5	3: 17: 26.5	21: 56.0	6th
08 (25)	Oleksiy Kikireshko	Kuldar Sikk	Mini Cooper S2000 1.6T	3: 19: 33.1	24: 02.6	4th
09 (26)	Simone Tempestini	Matteo Chiarcossi	Subaru Impreza STi	3: 23: 58.0	28: 27.5	2
10 (27)	Not Grøndal	Roger Eilertsen	Citroën DS3 R5	3: 26: 54.4	31: 23.9	1
WRC3
1 (22)	Ole Christian Veiby	Not so Jaeger	Citroën DS3 R3T	3: 16: 03.5	20: 33.0	25th

Source:

Special stages

Day	WP number	WP name	length	Start CET	winner	Co-driver	automobile	time	Ø km / h	leader
Day 1 (Feb. 12)	WP1	SSS Karlstad 1	1.90 km	8:04 p.m.	Pontus Tidemand	Patrik Barth	Ford Fiesta RRC	1: 32.1	74.3 km / h	Pontus Tidemand
Day 2 (Feb. 13)
	Service Park 07:05 a.m. (15 min)
	WP2	Torsby 1	14.76 km	08:29	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	8: 36.6	102.9 km / h	Sébastien Ogier
	WP3	Röjden 1	18.73 km	09:27	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	9: 59.4	112.5 km / h
	WP4	Finnskogen 1	20.76 km	10:36	Jari-Matti Latvala	Miikka Anttila	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	11: 03.1	112.7 km / h
	WP5	Kirkenaer 1	7.07 km	11:21	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	5: 26.7	77.9 km / h
	WP6	Kirkenaer 2	7.16 km	13:27	Yuriy Protasov	Pavlo Cherepin	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	5: 34.4	76.1 km / h
	WP7	Finnskogen 2	20.76 km	14:19	Jari-Matti Latvala	Miikka Anttila	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	11: 04.3	112.5 km / h
	WP8	Röjden 2	18.73 km	15:16	Andreas Mikkelsen	Ola Fløene	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	10: 01.1	112.2 km / h
	WP9	Torsby 2	14.76 km	16:35	Thierry Neuville	Nicolas Gilsoul	Hyundai i20 WRC	8: 40.4	102.2 km / h	Andreas Mikkelsen
	WP10	SSS Karlstad 2	1.90 km	19:00	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	1: 34.5	72.8 km / h
	Service Park 8:41 p.m. (45 min)
3rd day (Feb. 14)
	Service Park 06:05 a.m. (15 min)
	WP11	Fredriksberg 1	18.15 km	07:48	Andreas Mikkelsen	Ola Fløene	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	10: 33.9	103.1 km / h
	WP12	Ramming 1	22.76 km	08:37	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	11: 36.5	117.6 km / h
	WP13	Hagfors Sprint 1st	1.87 km	09:24	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	1: 21.2	60.5 km / h
	WP14	Vargåsen 1	24.63 km	10:08	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	13: 14.1	108.9 km / h
	Service Park 11:28 a.m. (30 min)
	WP15	Fredriksberg 2	18.15 km	13:26	Thierry Neuville	Nicolas Gilsoul	Hyundai i20 WRC	10: 27.6	104.1 km / h
	WP16	Ramming 2	22.76 km	14:15	Kris Meeke	Paul Nagle	Citroën DS3 WRC	11: 38.5	117.3 km / h
	WP17	Hagfors Sprint 2	1.87 km	15:02	Robert Kubica	Maciej Szczepaniak	Ford Fiesta RS WRC	1: 57.1	57.5 km / h
	WP18	Vargåsen 2	24.63 km	15:46	Thierry Neuville	Nicolas Gilsoul	Hyundai i20 WRC	13: 24.4	110.2 km / h	Thierry Neuville
	Service Park 4:51 p.m. (18 mins)
4th day (February 15th)
	Service Park 07:40 a.m. (15 min)
	WP19	Lesjöfors	15.00 km	08:57	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	13: 14.1	98.9 km / h	Andreas Mikkelsen
	WP20	Värmullsåsen 1	15.87 km	09:48	Jari-Matti Latvala	Miikka Anttila	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	8: 14.1	115.6 km / h
	Service Park 10:31 a.m. (30 min)
	WP21	Värmullsåsen 2 (Power Stage)	15.87 km	12:08	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Volkswagen Polo R WRC	8: 05.6	117.7 km / h	Sébastien Ogier
	Service Park 12:56 p.m. (10 min)

* During the specified times, you can work on the cars in the Service Park.
Source:

Driver ranking after the rally

The scoring system for the first ten drivers is 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. For the power stage, the three fastest drivers each receive 3-2-1 bonus points for the drivers' world championship.

Item	driver	Points
01	Sébastien Ogier	53
02	Thierry Neuville	30th
0	Andreas Mikkelsen	30th
04th	Jari-Matti Latvala	19th
05	Mads Østberg	14th
0	Elfyn Evans	14th
07th	Ott Tanak	12
08th	Hayden Paddon	10
0	Kris Meeke	10
10	Dani Sordo	08th

Media (German)

Web

The official website of the World Rally Championship, wrc.com, reported live daily from the event. The websites rallye-magazin.de, volkswagen-motorsport.de and motorsport-total.com, along with other magazines, kept those interested in rallying up to date.

watch TV

Sport1 and Sport 1+ broadcast a 30-minute daily report on the four days of the rally. Two special stages were broadcast live by Sport 1+ (SS1 and 14). Motors TV broadcast a 25-minute daily report on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a 45-minute summary in the week after the rally, which was repeated several times.

Remarks

1. ↑ The 18th special stage is meant.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ wrc.com: Mikkelsen leads to Drama in Sweden , accessed on February 14, 2015
2. ↑ wrc.com: Neuville jumps to the top of the Sweden Rally , accessed on February 14, 2015
3. ↑ motorsport-total.com: Ogier wins thrilling finish , accessed on February 15, 2015
4. ↑ wrc.com: Ketomaa catches up with 2014 victory , accessed March 7, 2015
5. ↑ ewrc-results.com: Registration list , accessed on January 22, 2015
6. ↑ wrc.com: Total results , accessed on March 28, 2015}
7. ↑ ewrc-results.com: Stage results , accessed on March 28, 2015}

Web links

• Information and results at http://www.wrc.com/
• Official Site Rally Sweden http://www.rallysweden.com/