M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Elfyn Evans, Teemu Suninen and Pontus Tidemand will be hoping for a classic Rally Sweden when the FIA World Rally Championship ventures to Värmland’s frozen forests next week – their later road positions meaning the more snow the better!
As one of the fastest events on the calendar, every second counts and the team are meticulous when it comes to ensuring the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs can compete at peak performance. Every detail counts and nothing is left to chance.
Heated side windows and radiator protection ensures the conditions don’t impact on performance, and high tech meets low tech with carbon fibre snow shovels and tow ropes ready to free stricken cars from the snowbanks. Even the car jack has a reinforced carbon foot to stop it from sinking into the snow!
Every detail has been considering for this unique winter rally, and the team are determined to realise their potential. With two Scandinavians in the team, the stage is set and we’re ready to show what we can do in the land of ice and snow.
For the first time, there will also be five top-specification Ford Fiesta WRCs in competition – Evans, Suninen and Tidemand joined by privateers Lorenzo Bertelli and Janne Tuohino. Team Principal, Richard Millener, said: « We’ve regrouped after Monte and are determined to do better in Sweden. If the conditions are good all three drivers could have a good road position and, if that is the case, it will be important to make the most of the advantage. We showed some good speed last month and I’m confident that we can do the same on snow. Elfyn is a previous Rally Sweden category winner and people often forget the names he beat to take that WRC 2 victory back in 2016. Teemu doesn’t have as much experience as people might expect when it comes to winter rallying, but he’s a quick learner and keen to show what he can do. And then there’s Pontus – the local hero who grew up on these roads. It’s important not to put too much pressure on his shoulders as this is still only his second event with a new-generation world rally car, but we know his potential and he has already learnt a lot so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some good times from him. It’s also going to be something of a highlight to see five top-specification Fiestas in the forests – our three manufacturer cars joined by Lorenzo Bertelli and Janne Tuohino. These cars are amazing to watch, and the more we can get out on the stages for the fans to enjoy the better! »
RALLY SWEDEN WINTER WONDERLAND Rally Sweden is the only true winter rally in the FIA World Rally Championship with frozen roads that venture deep into the Swedish and Norwegian forests. Michelin’s studded tyres bite through the snow to capture grip on the hard ice below, and the cars reach phenomenal speeds.
Hard-packed snowbanks can be used to guide the cars through corners at high speed, but if the crews misjudge the art they’ll risk the banks collapsing – leaving them trapped with nothing but a snow shovel and the enthusiasm of the fans to set them free!
There is no doubt about it, Rally Sweden favours the brave and the eventual winner will have had to beat the elements as well as their rivals.
ELFYN EVANS – SCOTT MARTIN Elfyn Evans may not have grown up on snow, but the Welshman is a past Rally Sweden winner having out-performed the locals to secure victory in the WRC 2 category when he took to the wheel of the Ford Fiesta R5 in 2016. Co-driver Scott Martin finished second overall at the event last year, and the pairing will be hoping to challenge for the top positions once again next week.
Previous starts: 5 Best result: 6th (2017 and 2015)
Elfyn Evans said: « As the only winter rally on the calendar, Rally Sweden is pretty special. We had a good test last week and it was important to get the sensation of driving on snow again. We reach incredible speeds and it’s an amazing feeling – making this one of the most enjoyable events of the year when the conditions are good. We’ll certainly be hoping that the conditions work in our favour next week and it will be important to make the most of the advantage if that is the case. We’ll have to wait and see what it’s like when we get there, but we have our fingers crossed for a classic Rally Sweden with plenty of snow. Monte didn’t end the way we wanted it to, and we need to remain focused and make good on our potential next week. We know that we have the package to achieve a strong result and both myself and Scott have had strong results at this event in the past. If everything works in our favour, there’s no reason why we can’t challenge for the top results and that’s what we’re all working towards delivering. »
TEEMU SUNINEN – MARKO SALMINEN Having started his motorsport career in karting, Teemu Suninen doesn’t have as much experience as expected when it comes to winter rallying, but that won’t stop the young Finn showing his potential next week. Co-driver Marko Salminen secured victory in the event’s WRC 2 category last year, and the pairing are determined to prove their potential at the highest level of competition.
Previous starts: 3 Best result: 8th (2018)
Teemu Suninen said: « Last week we drove a good test day with more than 200 kilometres in Finland. We actually had a lot more set-up changes to work through this year, and I could feel we’d taken a step forward. Our competitiveness in Rally Sweden will of course depend a bit on the weather. There is always a chance to minimise the time loss when someone else is cleaning the road for the drivers behind. The key is to stay on the clean line for as long as possible. The speed in Sweden is close to the figures we reach in Rally Finland. Sometimes we may lean on the snowbanks as well, but it is not always intentional. We start this rally with the notes I made last year, and I expect the competition to be just as tough as it was in Monte. Everyone wants the top positions, and we will have to work hard to ensure we are also in the hunt. »
PONTUS TIDEMAND – OLA FLØENE Pontus Tidemand will have the home crowd on side next week as he’s the only Swede to contest this year’s Rally Sweden with a new-generation world rally car. Having got to grips with the power and performance of the top-specification Fiesta at last month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, Tidemand and co-driver Ola Fløene showed their potential and will be keen to make a good impression on home soil.
Previous starts: 7 Best result: 8th (2014)
Pontus Tidemand said: « Rally Sweden is the highlight of my year – the big one that I always look forward to and I feel one hundred percent ready to take on the challenge of my home event. And what makes it even better is that I’m behind the wheel of the most amazing car I’ve ever driven. To speed through the snowy forests and see all the fans, the bonfires and the Swedish flags waving is an amazing feeling that beats everything. And to know that I have family, friends and supporters out there really gives me a boost. I’m starting to feel very comfortable with the car and I already feel at home in the team. When we came to Monte-Carlo last month, more or less everything was new and it was all about learning. It was an extremely important experience for both me and Ola and it gave us a chance to get used to it all. I’ve said all along that Rally Sweden is where I want to be competitive and on top performance. This is my home event, I know it very well and I have a great feeling about it this year. It will still be very demanding and challenging, and we will have to step up our game and quickly find a good rhythm that we can hopefully keep throughout the weekend. »
Greensmith and Pieniazek up for the Challenge
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team secured the very first WRC 2 Pro victory at last month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo and will return to the snow-covered stages of Rally Sweden with two EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta R5s for Gus Greensmith and Łukasz Pieniążek. Greensmith made history when he became the first WRC 2 Pro winner last month, but the Brit will face a fresh challenge when he tackles a classic snow rally for only the second time in his career. The Mancurian first took to the white stuff in 2017 when he secured fifth place in the WRC 2 category. Having developed his skills over the past two years, Greensmith will be keen to show his potential against some of the championship’s most experienced snow specialists next week.
Getting his season underway next week, Pieniążek also has limited experience on snow when compared to others in the WRC 2 Pro category. The Pole did however finish eighth overall when contesting last year’s Arctic Rally Lapland, and has been working hard in the lead up to his debut with the Fiesta R5. Getting to grips with M-Sport and Ford’s most successful global rally car whilst improving his skills on the ice, Pieniążek conducted a comprehensive test in Estonia to familiarise himself with the high-speed sensation that only comes with studded tyres, ice and snow. The two crews might not have the same experience as their rivals when it comes to winter rallying, but the Fiesta is a proven winner – securing all but one WRC 2 victory on snow and ice since the category was introduced in 2013.
Gus Greensmith said: « It took a while for my first win to sink in and I’ll admit to having to pinch myself a few times after being called a Monte winner! But this sport doesn’t wait for you to savour the moment and my mind quickly turned to Rally Sweden where I hope to go for another strong result. I have very little experience of this event and the driving style needed for winter rallying, so our pre-event test will be particularly important for our preparation. We’ve only got one day so we will have to be really focused and productive to try and get everything done. The route is pretty similar to last year so I have also spent countless hours studying the onboard videos to make sure that I am as prepared as I can be. I still don’t have a lot of experience on snow, but hopefully that will go some way to making up for it and I am definitely going to give it my all. It will be tough against the guys who have grown up on snow, but I have a great team around me and I feel at the top of my game – so we have every chance of continuing to challenge at the top. »
Łukasz Pieniążek said: « This will be my second start in Sweden and only my third with a four-wheel-drive car on snow. I don’t have a lot of experience in these conditions, but I really enjoy them. To prepare, we had a good three-day test in Estonia where we completed around 450 kilometres and got a good feeling with the Fiesta and a good understanding of how it handles in these snowy conditions. We’ll have another test with the team on Monday and I’m really looking forward to the rally. I really like driving on snow. The studded tyres give great grip but it does take some getting used to which is pretty challenging. Then there are the snowbanks. You don’t want to get stuck in one of them so it’s important to be really precise – especially in the narrow sections. My number one goal is to give my best and go as fast as we can. It will be our first rally with the new team and with a new car so let’s see what we can do. The recce will be very important to understand the conditions and choose the right setup. If we do that, then I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun on some of the most beautiful stages on the calendar. »
Team Principal, Richard Millener, said: « Gus and Łukasz don’t have a massive amount of experience on snow, and they’ll be going up against three guys who have winter rallying in their blood. It will be difficult to replicate our Monte-Carlo victory, but we’re certainly up for the challenge. Both drivers are capable of a WRC 2 Pro podium and the Fiesta has a pretty impressive record when it comes to Rally Sweden – securing all but one WRC 2 victory in the past six years! The competition will be tough, but we’ve got the potential to spring a few surprises and will be working hard to do just that. »
Press release M-Sport Ford
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