THE spectacle of the Rally of Sweden is more than just a race; it’s a testament to the any team’s resilience, innovation, and the thrilling dance of precision driving on the edge of nature’s limits.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Team eagerly anticipates enhancing their impressive record in winter rallies as they gear up for the Rally Sweden, the FIA World Rally Championship’s premier snow and ice rally, set for February 15-18, 2024.
2024 will see the return of the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID, a vehicle that has already proven its mettle in the frosty expanses of Sweden. This location is historically significant for the team, marking their first triumph in only their second appearance in 2017, with Jari-Matti Latvala–now acting as Team Principal–leading the charge. The team aims to build on their four victories in six Swedish outings by seeking a formidable performance in the second round of the 2024 season, buoyed by a successful start with a double podium finish at the Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Kalle Rovanperä, a two-time world champion, will kick off his 2024 WRC endeavor at Rally Sweden, a venue of his 2022 victory. He will be joined by Elfyn Evans, who achieved his inaugural win for the team in Sweden in 2020, and Takamoto Katsuta, who has also enjoyed success in this event.
A fourth entry, a GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID driven by Lorenzo Bertelli, will compete under the team’s customer program. Bertelli, for whom Rally Sweden is particularly special, returns to the event where he debuted with the team a year prior.
Rally Sweden will also see seven GR Yaris Rally2 cars competing in the WRC2 category, featuring drivers Sami Pajari, Georg Linnamäe, Mikko Heikkilä, Roope Korhonen, Jan Solans, and the TGR WRC Challenge Program duo of Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure.
Since relocating to Umeí¥ in 2022, Rally Sweden now offers even more extreme winter conditions and faster roads near the Arctic Circle, thanks to its northern venue. The specialized studded tires allow for unparalleled grip, making this one of the fastest rallies of the year.
The event kicks off with a sprint stage in Umeí¥, leading into a series of challenging stages over the weekend, concluding with a power stage on Sunday.
Jari-Matti Latvala reflects on the team’s preparation and expectations, highlighting the strengths of drivers Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta, all of whom are anticipated to excel on the snowy terrain.
Rovanperä shares his excitement for the rally, emphasizing the unique challenge of finding the perfect car setup for snow. Evans looks forward to leveraging his past success and improvements in car handling on the snow and ice. Katsuta, expressing his fondness for the event, is determined to push hard for a strong finish amidst the competitive field.
