Rally | Thierry Neuville leads the World Rally Championship in Sweden, Lapland and Rovanperä battle for top spots

Belgian Thierry Neuville leads the Swedish World Rally Championship with seven special stages behind on the opening day.

The Hyundai driver drove the second fastest pace in a special stage that ended Friday’s driving day, putting Neuville at the top of the overall race past the third-placed Toyota. Elfyn Evansin.

Toyota’s fastest runner-up in second place in the overall race will take second place. Kalle Rovanperä, which is the tip after 4.3 seconds. Like Rovanperä, commanding Toyota Esapekka Lapland in turn is fourth after 8.8 seconds for Neuville.

“I did what I could, but we have problems with the tires. I thought I was driving smart, but I couldn’t drive sparingly, ”summed up on the Lapland World Rally Championship website.

“I tried to be smart and save on tires. Maybe I was a little too careful, but on the other hand the road was icy and therefore I couldn’t press too hard, ”Rovanperä commented on his last race performance on the opening day.

There will be six special stages on Saturday. The rally ends on Sunday.