Since 1967, the Swedish rally has been run in Värmland and the surrounding area.
But after a couple of years with too little snow, the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) announced that the World Rally Championship's only winter stage must be characterized by winter conditions, and that it must be moved.
The choice was then between Östersund, Luleå and Umeå.
- It fell on Umeå because we want the city festival, we want to be close to the service point, we want to be close to award ceremonies so people can come and go instead of traveling long distances by car or bus, says Anna Nordkvist.
- The Swedish Rally's organization did a thorough investigation before choosing Umeå in particular.
Everything is weighed there.
From sustainability, environment, communications and so on.
All in all, Umeå is at the forefront.
They really thought about the whole in terms of the environment and the sporting aspect when they chose Umeå, says Jonas Kruse, SVT's motor expert.
"Want to stay in Umeå"
But the question is whether Umeå is far enough north, or whether the rally will have to be moved again?
Between 1961-1990, the normal temperature in Umeå was −8.6 °C, while from 1991-2020: it is −6.5 °C.
- We have a lot of snow right now, almost too much snow.
If I may wish, I would very much like to stay in Umeå.
Making a move like this is not something you do overnight.
It took an incredible amount of the organization last year to make this move.
I look forward to us being able to continue to be there, says Anna Nordkvist.
Even Jonas Kruse believes in a future for the rally in Umeå.
- There are the right conditions there.
Sustainability thinking in Umeå, where you are at the forefront.
For example, at the service site, you have fixed electricity at the service site, which comes from the river in Umeå.
Buses are used for the audience that run on fossil-free fuel.
Everything is there, there is no reason to move from Umeå in the near future, he says.
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Jonas Kruse believes that motorsport is at the forefront of environmental work Photo: SVT/Bildbyrån