Rovanperä immediately showcased impressive speed, setting the fourth fastest time on the shakedown. The Finnish driver’s quickest lap stopped the clocks at 2:47.2 On the first run, the Finnish driver was clearly the fastest, but as the afternoon approached, Esapekka Lappi recorded the fastest time.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville was significantly behind Rovanperä on the first run in the morning and ultimately finished fifth in the results. Neuville’s slowness was greatly affected by the fact that the Belgian could not hear his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe.
Rovanperä and Lappi demonstrated the significant impact of starting positions. Rovanperä hit the road seventh, which was immediately reflected in his time. Lappi also clearly benefited from his starting position, following Rovanperä onto the track as the eighth driver.
The Rally Sweden starts on Thursday evening. The spectator stage in Umeå begins at 19.40 Finnish time.
Results of the Shakedown Rally Sweden:
1. Esapekka Lappi Hyundai 2:45.9 2. Adrien Fourmaux Ford 2:46.5 3. Ott Tänak Hyundai 2:46.7 4. Kalle Rovanperä Toyota 2:47.2 5. Thierry Neuville Hyundai 2:48.8 6. Elfyn Evans Toyota 2:49.9 7. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota 2:50.5 8. Gregoire Munster Hyundai 2:52.1 9. Oliver Solberg Skoda 2:56.1 10. Georg Linnamäe Toyota 2:56.7
Itinerary (CET):
Thursday, February 15th 09:01 Shakedown: Håkmark (5.42 km) 19:05 SS1: Umeå Sprint 1 (5.16 km) Friday, February 16th 08:58 SS2: #42 Brattby 1 (10.76 km) 09:52 SS3: Norrby 1 (12.36 km) 10:55 SS4: Floda 1 (28.25 km) 13:28 Service (30 min) 14:36 SS5: #42 Brattby 2 (10.76 km) 15:30 SS6: Norrby 2 (12.36 km) 16:33 SS7: Floda 2 (28.25 km) 19:05 SS8: Umeå Sprint 2 (5.16 km) Saturday, February 17th 07:45 SS9: Vännäs 1 (15.65 km) 08:35 SS10: Sarsjöliden 1 (14.23 km) 10:08 SS11: Bygdsiljum 1 (28.06 km) 13:00 Service (30 min) 14:15 SS12: Vännäs 2 (15.65 km) 15:05 SS13: Sarsjöliden 2 (14.23 km) 16:38 SS14: Bygdsiljum 2 (28.06 km) 19:05 SS15: Umeå 1 (10.08 km) Sunday, February 18th 07:27 SS16: Västervik 1 (25.50 km) 09:06 Service (15 min) 10:03 SS17: Västervik 2 (25.50 km) 12:15 SS18: Umeå 2 (10.08 km) *Power Stage
