WRC Rally Sweden 2025
Sweden
12 – 16 February 2025
12
Feb
16
Feb
The WRC’s only pure winter fixture ventures deep into the frozen and remote forests of north-eastern Sweden from its home in Umeå. Studded tyres provide remarkable grip on snow and ice and, paradoxically, it is one of the season’s fastest rounds.
01
Key Facts
Date
13 - 16 February 2025
Entry list
Servicepark
Umeå
Itinerary / Schedule
Website
Hashtag
#RallySweden
Tickets
Watch the rally
02
About the rally
First held in 1950, Rally Sweden is one of the oldest rallies in the world. It is also the only rally on the WRC calendar to take place entirely on snow and ice, making it a unique and popular spectacle among fans worldwide.
In pursuit of the ultimate winter conditions, the event moved north in 2022 to a new base in Umeå. Drivers ‘lean’ their cars against the banks to guide them round corners. But in warmer temperatures the banks disintegrate on impact and cars can become stuck in the snow.
Studded tyres are essential and provide remarkable grip, but drivers must acclimatise to the ‘floating’ feeling and different braking points.
When temperatures hover around freezing, the studs tear up the road surface and exposed gravel rips them from the tyres to leave little traction. Outdoor servicing in temperatures which can plunge as low as -25°C makes normally routine jobs slower and tricky for gloved mechanics.
03
Top 3 Highlights
- It’s the WRC’s only pure winter rally. Watch in awe as the cars dance between the snowbanks at breathtakingly high speeds!
- Red Barn Arena is the place to be at Rally Sweden.
- Sweden hosts round one of the FIA Junior WRC - the ultra-competitive one-make series for aspiring young stars in M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars.
04
Event History
- First run in 1950 when it was called the Rally to the Midnight Sun as it was held in summer. It became a winter event in 1965.
- It featured in the inaugural championship in 1973 and has been dominated by Nordic drivers, who won every year until 2004 when Sébastien Loeb broke the mould.
- Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and 2020 victor Elfyn Evans are the only other ‘outsiders’ to win.
- Stig Blomqvist tops the roll of honour with seven wins.
05
Roll of honour
Wins
Drivers
Years won
7
Stig Blomqvist
1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1984
5
Marcus Grönholm
2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
5
Björn Waldegård
1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978
4
Jari-Matti Latvala
2008, 2012, 2014, 2017
3
Sébastien Ogier
2013, 2015, 2016
3
Tommi Mäkinen
1996, 1998, 1999
3
Kenneth Eriksson
1991, 1995, 1997
