The first special stage was held in the Swedish World Rally Championship on Thursday evening.
Toyota's Kalle Rovanperä started the Swedish Rally in show style on Thursday evening.
Rovanperä drove a hard bottom time in the opening special stage at Umeå Sprint 1 in Umeå.
Rovanperä, driving his first World Championship race of the season, won the second fastest time Takamoto Katsuta 1.4 seconds. The difference is huge, because the opening stretch was just over five kilometers long.
Elfyn Evans was third (+2.0 seconds) and Ott Tänak fourth (+2.1).
“It's nice to be able to drive. Finally a rally with the gas at the bottom. Tomorrow will be a difficult day, but let's go with a good feeling”, said reigning world champion Rovanperä.
Esapekka Lappi was only the seventh fastest in the sprint. He is also running his opening race of the season.
“I can not say. It came cleanly, but the weather is really bad. Nothing can be done”, Lappi wondered in a TV interview.
The Swedish rally continues on Friday morning.
Read more: Only success is good for Jari-Matti Latvala's Toyota: “Sweden is really important to us”
Read more: Kalle Rovanperä starts a career as a track driver – announced his new team and car
Swedish rally program
Friday 16.2.
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9.58 EK2 #42 Brattby 1 (10.76 km)
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10.52 EK3 Norrby 1 (12.36 km)
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11.55 EK4 Floda 1 (28.25 km)
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15.36 EK5 #42 Brattby 2 (10.76 km)
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16.30 EK6 Norrby 2 (12.36 km)
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17.33 EK7 Floda 2 (28.25 km)
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20.05 EK8 Umeå Sprint 2 (5.16 km)
Saturday 17.2.
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8.45 EK9 Vännäs 1 (15, 65 km)
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9.35 EK10 Sarsjöliden 1 (14.23 km)
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11.08 EK11 Bygdsiljum 1 (28.06 km)
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15.15 EK12 Vännäs 2 (15, 65 km)
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16.05 EK13 Sarsjöliden 2 (14.23 km)
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17.38 EK14 Bygdsiljum 2 (28.06 km)
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20.05 EK15 Umeå 1 (10.08 km)
Sunday 18.2.
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8.27 EK16 Västervik 1 (25.50 km)
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11.03 EK17 Västervik 2 (25.50 km)
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13.15 EK18 Umeå 2, Power Stage (10.08 km)
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