Carlberg delivers on debut with dream Junior WRC win
Calle Carlberg completed a dream FIA Junior WRC debut on Sunday, sealing a commanding Rally Sweden victory with a composed drive on home snow.
The 25-year-old Swede, rewarded with a funded campaign after clinching the 2025 FIA Junior ERC title, controlled the rally from early on and returned to Umeå with a 1min 52.5sec advantage over Finland’s Leevi Lassila having won 12 out of 17 stages.
Starting the final leg with a 1min 19.5sec buffer, Carlberg avoided unnecessary risks but showed no sign of backing off completely. After losing SS16 Västervik 1 to Ali Türkkan, he responded by setting the pace on the second pass before topping the timesheets again on the Wolf Power Stage to cap a near-perfect weekend.
“It’s crazy. I could never have imagined this,” said Carlberg. “After winning the Junior ERC last year, I was really looking forward to this. To make my WRC debut at home was magical, and to win it is even better.”
Finland’s Lassila was unable to mount a serious challenge once Carlberg stretched clear on Friday, but he delivered a composed drive to secure strong points on the season opener.
“I was hoping for a little bit more, but on Friday I was struggling with the car,” he explained. “I am looking forward to doing the whole championship and competing against Calle and the others.”
Raúl Hernández completed the podium a further 2min 09.8sec back from Lassila. The Spaniard’s measured approach on unfamiliar snow stages delivered strong returns as he too banked valuable championship points.
Teenager Gil Membrado overcame early setbacks to secure a solid fourth-place finish, but there was late drama on SS17 when Craig Rahill crashed 4.7km into the test while running fifth. That promoted Türkkan, whose victory bid unravelled when he went off the road on Friday, into the top five as Kerem Kazaz completed the finishers in sixth.
The FIA Junior WRC switches to asphalt next time out when Croatia Rally, taking place from 9 – 12 April, hosts round two of the season.
Final Standings, Rally Sweden:
- Calle Carlberg – 2:54:58.1
- Leevi Lassila – +1:52.5
- Raúl Hernández – +4:02.3
- Gil Membrado – +12:07.7
- Ali Türkkan – +40:29.7
- Kerem Kazaz – +42:01.5
Rally Sweden Stage Winners:
SS1 Umeå: Ali Türkkan
SS2 Bygdsiljum 1: Ali Türkkan
SS3 Andersvattnet 1: Calle Carlberg
SS4 Bäck 1: Calle Carlberg
SS5 Bygdsiljum 2: Leevi Lassila
SS6 Andersvattnet 2: Stage Cancelled
SS7 Bäck 2: Calle Carlberg
SS8 Umeå Sprint 1: Calle Carlberg
SS9 Vännäs 1: Calle Carlberg
SS10 Sarsjöliden 1: Calle Carlberg
SS11 Kolksele 1: Calle Carlberg
SS12 Vännäs 2: Ali Türkkan
SS13 Sarsjöliden 2: Calle Carlberg
SS14 Kolksele 2: Calle Carlberg
SS15 Umeå Sprint 2: Calle Carlberg
SS16 Västervik 1: Ali Türkkan
SS17 Västervik 2: Calle Carlberg
SS18 Umeå 2: Calle Carlberg
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