Solberg fastest on shakedown: "Important to have a good start and know he has the speed"

Oliver Solberg really charged up already on the first test out on the shakedown stretch, Håkmark, 5.45 kilometers long.

The 21-year-old had the fastest time on the first lap and said in the stretch finish that he also felt the snowbanks.

- Yes, we drive in the snowbanks, it's fun, but it was much more slippery than I thought, so I drove a little too hard in many places and was in the bank and lost a lot of time, but OK, says Solberg to WRC at the finish.

The drivers must drive at least three times on the practice track and it was even between the top drivers in WRC2.

Even the Norwegian Ole Christian Veiby, who this weekend won the SM sub-competition in Lima, was really fast.

Veiby just three hundredths behind Solberg's top time which he recorded on the third lap. 

Top three WRC2 drivers on shakedown:

1. Oliver Solberg 3:01.4

2. Ole Christian Veiby 3:01.7

3. Teemu Suninen 3:02.2

The world champion fast in the WRC 

Last year's winner in Umeå and reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä immediately showed his strength on snow and ice.

The Finn was fastest of all in the main class during the morning. 

Top three WRC drivers on shakedown:

1. Kalle Rovanperä 2:50.9

2. Esapekka Lappi 2:51.0

3. Takamoto Katsuta 2:51.2

The Swedish rally starts tonight with the opening special stage Umeå sprint, just over five kilometers long.