Elfyn Evans edged team-mate Kalle Rovanpera to take an early lead at Rally Sweden 2025.
The opening act of the thrilling winter spectacle was the Umeå Sprint, a superspecial stage held on Thursday night, upon the snow-covered landscapes of Umeå.
The short but intense stage, a mere 5.16 kilometers (3.2 miles) in length, served as a tantalizing appetizer for the challenges that lay at Rally Sweden 2025, setting the stage for a weekend of high-speed action and nail-biting competition.
Elfyn Evans representing Toyota Gazoo Racing emerged as the early pacesetter seizing the lead after a blistering run through the Umeå Sprint. The Welshman alongside his co-driver Scott Martin, showcased remarkable skill and precision, expertly piloting his GR Yaris Rally1 car through the challenging course.
Clocking a time of 3:21:6s, Evans edged out his teammate Kalle Rovanpera and Hyundai’s Ott Tänak by a mere half-second setting the tone for a fiercely competitive weekend.
His performance was particularly impressive considering he was the first car on the road, a position that often puts drivers at a disadvantage due to the lack of established lines and the potential for encountering loose snow.
However, Elfyn Evans expertly managed the conditions, taking full advantage of his clean run to establish an early lead at Rally Sweden 2025.
“It was pretty okay,” Evans told Dirtfish after the stage. “Obviously, judging the braking points is difficult in the dark, but it was all okay.”
Meanwhile Rovanpera displayed remarkable skill on snow and ice to share the second spot with Tanak. The young Finn, known for his aggressive driving style and unwavering commitment, pushed his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 to the limit matching Tanak’s time down to the millisecond.
However, Rovanpera had opted to carry an extra spare wheel, anticipating the grueling stages that awaited on Friday. This added weight might have slightly hampered his performance on the short superspecial, but he remained confident in his chances for the remainder of the rally.
On the other hand, Hyundai’s Ott Tanak proved that he would be a force to be reckoned with. The experienced Estonian driver’s mastery of snowy conditions is well-known, with multiple Rally Sweden victories under his belt.
His identical time with Rovanpera underscored his determination to challenge for the top spot at Rally Sweden 2025 and add another Swedish triumph to his illustrious career.
M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux continued his strong start to the 2025 WRC season, finishing fourth, just 1.2 seconds behind Evans. The young Frenchman who secured a podium finish at the previous round in Monte Carlo, demonstrated impressive speed and consistency showcasing his potential as a future star.
Despite a minor scare when he brushed a snowbank early in the stage, Fourmaux recovered quickly and maintained his composure, finishing ahead of more experienced Thierry Neuville.
Neuville admitted to being overly cautious on the Umeå Sprint, finishing fifth, 3.7 seconds behind Evans. The Hyundai driver, known for his aggressive and flamboyant driving style struggled to find the right rhythm on the icy surface.
READ ALSO: Rally Sweden Shakedown: Thierry Neuville leads Martins Sesks
Neuville also reported an ongoing issue with his intercom system, which might have affected his communication with his co-driver.
Despite his less-than-ideal start, the veteran Belgian driver remained optimistic, recognizing that Rally Sweden 2025 was still in its early stages and there were plenty of opportunities to make ground.
“Every time I do this stage, I’m always on the limit with the braking – but this time, I was early everywhere,” Neuville chuckled. “We had an issue with the intercom this morning on shakedown, and it’s still there.”
Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta secured sixth place, just 1.7 seconds behind Neuville. The Japanese driver who has shown flashes of brilliance in the past delivered a clean and consistent run avoiding any major errors considering his less-than-favorable road position.
Sami Pajari, another Toyota driver, making his first full winter rally in Rally1 machinery followed closely behind Katsuta in seventh place just 0.2 seconds adrift. The rising WRC star demonstrated impressive composure, adapting quickly to the challenges of driving a top-level rally car on snow and ice.
The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 trio of Josh McErlean, Gregoire Munster, and Mārtiņš Sesks rounded out the top 10. McErlean, the young Irishman in only his second Rally1 start, led the charge, finishing eighth, 7.5 seconds behind Evans.
McErlean admitted to being “a bit scrappy in the junctions” but was generally satisfied with his time. Munster, however, struggled to find grip and was at a loss to explain his struggles while Sesks made a mistake on the first junction but still managed to finish within half a second of Munster.
In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg, chasing a hat trick of Rally2 wins, set the early pace at Rally Sweden 2025 beating fellow Swedes Pontus Tidemand by 1.4 seconds.
Solberg’s performance underscored his dominance in the WRC2 class as he aims to secure another victory and strengthen his lead in the championship standings.
