A Need for Speed: The 2023 Swedish Rally Promises Record-Breaking Pace
The 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to ignite the icy roads near Umeå,Sweden,marking a meaningful shift from its customary home in Karstad. This relocation north has resulted in the creation of 17 brand-new winter special stages, promising an unprecedented level of speed.
While these stages will feature some tight and technical sections, drivers can anticipate long, straight stretches that will push both car and driver to their limits.
This year’s rally is generating significant buzz as potentially the fastest in WRC history. The current record for the fastest stage belongs to the 2016 Finnish rally, where Chris Meeke achieved an astonishing average speed of 126.6 km/h.
M-Sport Ford driver Craig Breen echoed this sentiment,stating,”This will be the fastest rally ever. There aren’t many blind corners or jumps, but where the road narrows, it gets incredibly tight and uneven.”
The 2022 season saw the Swedish rally replaced by a winter event in Finland, which served as the final winter stage of the championship. Hyundai driver Ott Tänak emerged victorious in Lapland that year.
Tänak himself anticipates a record-breaking event, commenting, “This could be one of the fastest rallies. In fact, it looks like the fastest rally of my career. There are so many long straights here, something I haven’t encountered much in othre stages.”
However, not everyone shares Tänak’s enthusiasm. His teammate, Martin Järveoja, expressed reservations about the new stages, stating, “these stages are very different from last year’s winter event in Finland. The weather is favorable, with high banks, but the ice isn’t thick, so we’ll likely hit gravel quickly. The stages will be fast, but from my outlook, not as interesting as I expected. Some are enjoyable,while others don’t quite meet the WRC standard. Fast is fine, but fast and straight isn’t especially engaging.”
The 2023 Swedish Rally promises a thrilling spectacle of speed and skill, with drivers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on ice and snow. Whether it will live up to the hype and surpass the record books remains to be seen.
Will the 2023 Swedish Rally Be the Fastest in History?
A Conversation with Rally Legend Juha Kankkunen
The 2023 World Rally Championship is gearing up for a showstopping event in the snow-covered wilds of Sweden. Moving the rally north too Umeå has sparked a flurry of excitement, with the promise of record-breaking speeds on brand-new stages. The question on everyone’s mind: Will this be the fastest rally in WRC history?
To unravel this icy enigma, I sat down with four-time World Rally Champion and Finnish rallying legend, Juha Kankkunen, for his expert insights.
me: Juha, the hype around the Swedish Rally is palpable. Drivers are predicting unprecedented speeds, even hinting at shattering existing records. What are your thoughts on these claims?
Juha Kankkunen:
It’s certainly shaping up to be a fast rally. The new stages north of Umeå are known for their long straights and open sections. This will allow drivers to truly push their cars to the limit. Though, remember, speed isn’t everything in rallying. It’s about finding the perfect balance between pace and precision.
Me: Some drivers, like Craig Breen, are even calling it the “fastest rally ever.” Do you agree with that assessment, or are there factors that might prevent that from happening?
Juha Kankkunen:
While the stages are undoubtedly fast, predicting the “fastest ever” is difficult. Weather conditions can play a huge role. A slight change in temperature could turn the ice patches into slush, significantly impacting grip and slowing down the cars.
Me: Captivating point. Now, Ott Tänak highlighted the long straights as a defining feature of these new stages. some argue that while fast, these straights might lack the technical challenge found in other rallies. do you think this could make the rally less engaging for spectators?
Juha Kankkunen:
I understand the sentiment.
There’s a certain thrill to watching drivers navigate tight corners and negotiate hairpin bends. However, pure speed has its own allure. Seeing these powerful rally cars charging through the snow at breakneck speeds is an incredible spectacle in itself.
Me: Martin Järveoja,Tänak’s teammate,expressed reservations,describing some of the stages as “not interesting.” He prefers the technical challenges of rallies past. Do you share his view?
Juha Kankkunen: Every driver has their personal preferences. Some thrive on technical, twisty stages, while others relish the chance to open up their cars on flat-out sections. It’s what makes rally such a diverse and challenging sport. Ultimately, the success of the rally will be judged by the overall experience, the tight competition, and the drama it unfolds.
Me: Looking forward, what do you see as the key challenges for drivers in this year’s Swedish Rally?
Juha Kankkunen:
Besides the obvious need for speed, drivers will have to be incredibly adept at handling fickle conditions.
The weather can change rapidly in this part of Sweden. Adaptability will be crucial!
Me: thank you for your invaluable insights, Juha.It truly seems the 2023 Swedish Rally promises to be a thrilling battle of speed and skill.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming rally?
Does the prospect of record-breaking speeds excite you,or do you prefer the technical intricacies of conventional rallies? share your opinions in the comments below and let’s keep the conversation going!
