Neuville is 4.3 seconds ahead of Finn Kall Rovanperä after the first seven special stages on the snowy icy tracks around the town of Umea. The third is the world vice-champion Elfyn Evans from Britain with a gap of 7.4 seconds, the fourth with a loss of 8.8 seconds Finn Esapekka Lappi, who has not run the complete World Championship series since 2019.
“The car works great. We only had to make small adjustments and I was able to drive very fast,” praised Neuville, who won in Sweden in 2018.
His Estonian teammate Ott Tänak had less reason to be satisfied, as he could not start until the sixth stage due to problems with the hybrid system. The previous test was won by the 2019 world champion and he was second to Evans.
Last year’s world champion Sébastien Ogier and the winner of the January Monte Carlo Rally Sébastien Loeb will not start in Sweden. Both French no longer intend to complete the entire championship.
The rally traditionally lasts until Sunday.
| Swedish Rally, World Car Championship event – after the 1st day: |
|---|
| 1. Neuville, Wydaeghe (Belg./Hyundai i20) 1:02.31.2 |
| 2. Rovanperä, Halttunen (Fin./Toyota Yaris) -4.3 |
| 3. Evans, Martin (Brit./Toyota Yaris) -7,4 |
| 4. Lapland, Ferm (Fin./Toyota Yaris) -8.8 |
| 5. Solberg, Edmondson (Sweden, Brit./Hyundai i20) -28.1 |
| 6. Kacuta, Johnston (Jap., Ir.//Toyota Yaris) -1: 18.9. |
