Rally Sweden 2026: The Ultimate Winter Preview
The Route: High-Speed Heartlands
Based once again in Umeå, the 2026 itinerary covers 300.66 km across 18 special stages. While the base remains familiar, 35% of the route is technically “new” as classic stages like Västervik and Kolksele have been reversed.
Friday: The longest day of the rally features the mammoth Bygdsiljum stage (27.55 km), which includes a brand-new, wide-open opening section.
Saturday: Action shifts west with fast, technical tests like Vännäs and Sarsjöliden, ending with the crowd-favorite Umeå Sprint under the lights.
Sunday: A double pass of Västervik leads into the Wolf Power Stage, a 10km dash back into the Red Barn Arena in Umeå.
The Weather: Perfect or Perilous?
Current reports from Umeå suggest “picture-perfect” winter scenery, but for rally drivers, it’s more complex. Temperatures are forecast to plummet as low as -18°C, ensuring the snowbanks are frozen solid—essential for “leaning” the car through corners.
However, crews have noted a lack of a solid ice base on some gravel sections. This means the 20mm tungsten-tipped studs will tear through to the gravel quickly, potentially stripping the tires of grip by the second pass of the stages. If fresh snow falls on Friday morning, the early cars will face the nightmare of “sweeping” the road for those behind.
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