The organisers, however, are facing a major challenge with less than two months to go before the event.
According to the local newspaper Folkbladet, the agreement between the rally organisers and Sami villages has expired. The Rans Sami village already informed the organisers during the summer that it opposes holding the rally in reindeer grazing areas in 2025.
Rally Sweden has been hosted around Umeå since 2022. In its early years, the organisers engaged in lengthy negotiations with Sami villages whose areas the rally routes crossed.
For example, the agreements for the 2022 rally’s special stages were only finalised with the Sami villages two months before the event began. Since then, Rally Sweden has operated under a formal agreement with the Sami villages. However, that agreement has now expired, and it is uncertain whether consensus can be reached this time.
The Grans Sami village views the initial years of the rally as a trial period. The community claims the rally has not been planned or executed in a way that aligns with their expectations. As a result, they oppose the event taking place on their grazing lands in 2025.
The Rans Sami village has also raised concerns about the condition of winter grazing areas for reindeer, which are expected to be poor. This could lead reindeer to roam wider areas, potentially bringing them onto the competition routes.
Despite this, the rally organisers have so far stuck to their plans, even though 14 of the 18 special stages cross areas where Sami villages oppose the event.
Folkbladet asked the rally organisation for a comment on the matter.
“I have no comments at this time, as the consultation is ongoing and out of respect for all parties involved,” said Erik Åström, the Event Director for Rally Sweden.
Rally Sweden is currently scheduled to run from 13–16 February.
