Nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb won the Monte Carlo rally in January, the first of his annual freelance for Ford, showing that at 47 he has lost none of his speed.

Sébastien Ogier, 38 years old and eight WRC titles, is on the 2nd step of the podium in Monaco but will not be in Sweden either, which is not part of the rallies he will compete this year with Toyota despite his three victories (2013, 2015, 2016) on Swedish roads.

Suddenly, the way is clear for the contenders for the title on a completely new course, laid out around the town of Umeaa more than 600 kilometers north of Stockholm.

In the front row, last year's winner, the Briton Elfyn Evans, 33, who is chasing his first title and wants to redeem himself from his accident in Monte Carlo with his Toyota.

Elfyn Evans near Bergamo, Italy, during the Monza rally, November 20, 2021 Andreas SOLARO AFP / Archives

"We didn't start the year the way we wanted but a small benefit is that we will be in a better position in the starting order, which is always an advantage in Sweden", where it is always more difficult to pave the way, he commented.

He will have to rely on his Finnish teammate Kalle Rovanperä, 21, 4th in Monte Carlo and already winner of two WRC rallies.

He will open the road on the first day as he finished 3rd in Monte Carlo behind Loeb and Ogier.

The Toyota team will be bolstered by another Finn, Esapekka Lappi, 31, who hasn't had a full season since 2019 despite competing in Rally Sweden in 2020, finishing 5th in a Ford.

"Being able to race at the highest level again is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Sweden is an event that I've always enjoyed and I've always been very competitive there," said the driver, who is aiming for the podium. .

Confirmation for Ford?

Ford, surprise winner of the first rally of the season with Loeb, can count on the Irishman Craig Breen, 4th in the championship two points behind Rovanperä.

He finished 2nd in Sweden in 2018 driving a Citroën and intends to do as well this year.

“I have done the rally many times but on the previous layout around Torsby and it will be completely new this time around,” Breen stressed, noting that the new hybrid WRC cars would run on a carpet for the first time. snow.

He will be supported at M-Ford by Briton Gus Greensmith and Frenchman Adrien Fourmeaux.

Thierry Neuville before the start of the Monte-Carlo rally on January 19, 2022 in Monaco Valery HACHE AFP / Archives

"It will be the first time I'm going to drive a WRC car on snow and it's going to be a big step but I'm looking forward to it," said the 26-year-old French driver, who crashed off the road in Monte Carlo. .

There remains Hyundai, which does not seem to be at the top at the start of the season.

The Belgian Thierry Neuville hopes better than his 11th place on the roads of the Alps.

Winner in Sweden in 2018 and 3rd in 2019, he intends to raise the bar and show that this year he can win his first world championship after having failed 5 times on the second step.

"With the new route, it's hard to know what awaits us but it will be interesting," he warned.

Ott Tänak at the Catalonia Rally, near Salou, October 15, 2021 Pau BARRENA AFP / Archives

His Estonian teammate Ott Tänak, WRC world champion in 2019 is also ready: "It was in Sweden that I made my first podium with Hyundai and it would be really good to be able to repeat that this weekend".

The event begins Friday morning with a course totaling 264.81 km with the 17th and last special (Power Stage for additional points) Sunday at 12:18 p.m. (11:18 GMT).

© 2022 AFP