2014 Rally Sweden - Preview
The event is once again based in Karlstad, although this year at a new Headquarters at the Karlstad Congress Culture Centre, while the service park is located 85 kilometres away at Hagfors airport.
The winter wonderland backdrop may provide spectacular scenery, but Rally Sweden’s sub-zero temperatures demand specific preparation and place huge demands on man and machinery. The cars are also equipped with special tyres; tungsten-tipped steel studs protrude from narrow winter tyres providing amazing grip as they bite through the frozen road surface.
Three stages are scheduled to be broadcast live on television, both nationally and internationally; the Karlstad Super Special Stage on Wednesday and both runs through Värmullsåsen on Saturday – the second run being the closing Power Stage.
RALLY SWEDEN – ROUTE GRAPHICS
THE 2014 ROUTE
The first full day of competition on Thursday starts in Sweden but heads across the border to Norway for two loops of two identical stages. The day closes with a second run around the all-new Torsby stage in Sweden, this time in darkness. Friday’s route takes the crews to the east of Hagfors for two loops of four stages before heading to Karlstad for the second and final run over the super special stage. On Saturday the contenders head to well-known stages around Hagfors, including two runs through the Vargåsen stage, where cars fly over the famous Colin’s Crest and a special award is presented for the longest jump. The rally finishes with the all-important Power Stage; Värmullsåsen.
RALLY DATA
Total distance: Stage distance: Number of stages: |
1,583.33 km 323.54 km 24 |
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
The Rally Sweden Media Accreditation Centre is located at Rally Headquarters in the Karlstad Congress Culture Centre, Karlstad. The opening hours are:
Monday 3 February Tuesday 4 February Wednesday 5 February |
14:00 – 20:00 hrs 08:00 – 20:00 hrs 07:00 – 22:00 hrs |
RALLY SWEDEN TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA
Tuesday 4 February Mandatory rally by rally photographers briefing, Photographers’ Room Wednesday 5 February Shakedown (P1 and P2) Shakedown (P1, P2 and P3) Shakedown (non-priority) FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Karlstad Autograph session, Karlstad super special stage Opening ceremony Start and SSS1 Thursday 6 February Regroup and Media Zone, Kirkener First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Hagfors End of day press conference, WRC Stage, Service Park, Hagfors Friday 7 February First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Hagfors First car arrives for final service and Media Zone , Hagfors End of day Press Conference, WRC Stage, Service Park, Hagfors Regroup and Media Zone, Karlstad Saturday 8 February First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Hagfors Regroup and media zone, Geijersholm First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Hagfors Holding area with media access before the podium, Karlstad Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Karlstad Town Square FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Karlstad |
18:00 hrs 08:00-10:00 hrs 10:00-12:00 hrs 12:00-14:00 hrs 14:30 hrs 18:15 hrs 19:00 hrs 20:00 hrs 13:58 hrs 18:02 hrs During 45’ service 11:24 hrs 16:16 hrs During 45’ service 18:29 hrs 11:01 hrs 14:46 hrs 15:59 hrs 16:50 hrs approx. 17:27 hrs 18:45 hrs |
FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
Wednesday 5 February Saturday 8 February |
Yazeed Al Rajhi, FIA WRC 2 Championship Fredrik Åhlin, FIA WRC 2 Championship Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team Juho Hänninen, Hyundai Motorsport Robert Kubica, RK M-Sport World Rally Team Pontus Tidemand Winning FIA WRC 2 crew Top three crews in the overall classification Representative of the winning entrant |
ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Autograph Signing Session: On Thursday and Friday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.
STAGE CHART
Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:
www.fia.com/championship/world-rally-championship/2014/rally-sweden-stage-chart