63. Rally Sweden 2015
12. 2. – 15. 2. 2015, Karlstad • snow - ice 308.00 km • total distance including road sections - 1409.00 km • Other years
Info
SS21
We gave it everything, we cut a bank and we were stuck. Okay, we tried, that's the main thing. Hopefully we'll get some more luck next time.
What a win, honestly! I'm really, really proud of this one. I was faster that everybody this weekend but my starting position was so bad. It's a happy ending.
We have to wait. I was maximum. I took big risks. I am happy. It's like a wake-up call for the team and I hope we can be in this position more often!
"A lot of people had problems, we had a spin on the first day, a lot to learn moving forward."
It's been frustrating at points, but i'm really really happy with the progress this weekend!
"Just a fast right, I touched the rear and it sucked in the front."
I'm happy with the speed we showed this weekend. A few mistakes early on, but after the disappointment in Monte Carlo this is good for our motivation.
We did a good stage here and for the first time this rally the car is working well. It's very disappointing to know what I could have had all rallly.
I enjoyed it so much. Okay, the conditions in the snow were new to me, but getting used to a World Rally Car was even more of a challenge. I'm happy. The team gave me a fantastic car and I hope to see you all again soon.
"Had a good run & drove as fast as I could. Many places where slippier than in the morning.Think it’s not gonna be enough but let’s see."
"I had a proper spin in there! But it was good. I will come back stronger."
This rally I haven't really done a mistake. Unfortunately we weren't able to finish in the points but overall really good.
SS20
"Good stage, close to perfect. Good fun, everything is still open"
I missed a second on the last right hand corner. It's going to be a very exciting last stage…
"I need more. Not a perfect stage for me. I hit a few snow banks."
"Not a lot really. Don't know if we are able to fix the car or not. If we are, we can push. I think the problem is electrical." / Nevím, jestli jsme schopni to opravit. Jestli ano, zabereme. Myslím, že je to elektrický problém...
"Really nice stage, very nice conditions. We can't do anything big now, just keep the pace." / Opravdu krásná zkouška, parádní podmínky. Teď nemůžeme udělat nic moc velkého, jen udržovat tempo...
"There's no point now in trying to take any risks, we'll try to tidy the notes up for next year. Lot of work." / Nemám šanci vybojovat nějaké body, takže neriskuji, snažíme se zlepšit rozpis pro příští rok. Spousta práce...
"Really huge moment, I was pushing, big corners, I didn't manage one of them." / Hodně velká krize, tlačili jsme, na šestku jsme šli skoro přes budku..
"I didn't have a great feeling, I felt we could have gone harder, more grip than it looked on the surface. Fast stage." / Neměl jsem úplně dobrý pocit, myslím, že jsme mohli jet lépe, přilnavosti bylo víc než se zdálo. Rychlá zkouška...
"Just a little bit cautious this morning, difficult to find that commitment on the fast corners. Just have to keep my rhythm."
"Okay, a little bit long stage, fast sections not correct, but okay."
"He had a big moment, he's stuck in the snow bank, I could just avoid him. [Solowow stuck in SS20] / Solowow měl krizovku, vletěl do závěje, vyhnul jsem se mu...
I am flat out everywhere, I try! If you don't have a moment in the Swedish Rally, you can go home!
Stopped in stage
We accept the decision [Steward's penalty], but it's difficult.
I've been playing with different things, same things that work in the old car don't work in the new car.
"We had a spin in the first one, but the grip was better in this one, and we had to adjust."
SS19
"I had a problem with my intercom after 500metres, it was very distracting, my co-driver couldn't hear me." / Po startu jsem měl problém s interkomem, Nicolas mě neslyšel...
"I had a problem with my handbrake. I blocked all for wheels two times and we hit a snow bank."
"I was a bit too wide in the fast section. An okay stage for us to begin with. The stage was in great condition, maybe I could have gone faster. Now we have to push like crazy."
"I slowed down because he [Ostberg] was in the road, I hope others slow down too."
Is in the snowbank
No, it's not [been a great start]. I tried my best to find the rhythm.
Stopped in the stage
"Just some small changes last night, nothing major, but it seems to be okay."
I had a clean stage. But it's quite easy to get the wrong rhythm. It's quite slippery
It's very difficult to read the road… but we enjoyed this one [stage], it's one of the most difficult ones on the rally
"Very, very nice stage. I am pushing, I have pushed all weekend! I cannot do better! Car is working, no problem."
Fantastic. Never better. I haven't felt so comfortable in the new car. I have finally discovered something that I should have found two months ago. I can't tell you what. Something on the car, It helps me drive the car and it's going to help me reset for Mexico.
"We had a small moment. A lot of road cleaning in here. Not perfect. I just want to complete the rally now."
SS18
I actually flew on Colin's Crest now! But we lost sixth gear so we lost time. We made some progress earlier...
"I had to reverse twice and lost about twenty seconds."
"It is working today! Not really happy with every stage, but at the end of the day, we are happy!"
"Not really [happy with his time], thinking about something different. Not good, need to concentrate."
"Places where I was not quite sure, trying to be clean, and then half-way through the tyres started to go off..."
I had a big big push to be honest! We lost maybe 3 or 4 seconds, but this is one of the best stages i've ever done!
"We will give it everything, no complaints, I was quite happy with that."
We are disappointed, but that's the way it is. It's very difficult tomorrow. I don't think I have a chance, but we will try.
"Happy with my pace. Whatever others do, I did my best."
SS17
I have a very good road position. It's an advantage. When I have it, I have to take it!
"Something is wrong, we have to try and change something ready for next stage."
"Awful. Very difficult to get a good run because there is so much loose snow."
I didn't throw anything away, but it was terrible to be first on the road here. It was that bad. Probably five seconds here. It's a shame that we have to follow the stupid historic rally.
SS16
"I got stuck on the entry of the snow bank, cost me more than a minute."
There is more gravel with every passing car. We are losing quite a lot of studs and overheating the tyres. It's a concern for last stage.
In the gravel we don't want to push the tyres too much, the conditions are really rough on them.
On this stage it's so important to have good pace notes - especially in the fast sections. We were a little out there.
A horrible stage for us. A bad feeling. The car wouldn't turn-in. I have no idea why.
The road is getting quicker and quicker, it's quite simple. I have the advantage!
When the grip is there it's very good, but then all of a sudden it's like there isn't any grip.
"Okay stage, I was a little bit disappointed after the last stage, I tried to keep clean and be clever..."
"Every year, I never get it right! It's unbelievable. I got no speed. Every time, every year the last split, different corner!" / Každý rok totéž, nikdy to tu neprojedu správně! Neuvěřitelné. Neměl jsem rychlost. Vždy, každý rok poslední mezičas, přestože jsou to různé zatáčky!
"It is tough to be honest, the gravel is giving you some grip but then there is a lot of soft snow..."
"Not that good, but it was not that bad either. I think you have to follow the lines [in order to win this rally!]"
SS15
"Due to the road being soft, you can easily come out of the ruts... but wonderful stage, there is rhythm in the notes"
"Its very easy to lose the lines and you have to correct very quickly, but it's all okay." / Je to velmi snadné ztratit stopu a rychle se to musí korigovat, ale vše v pohodě...
"It's okay, really tricky in some places, some snow, I think we had an okay stage." / Je to dobré, místy dost nepříjemné, nějaký ten sníh, myslím, že to pro nás byla dobrá zkouška...
"I think it's good, feeling is better, first time is mainly snow, good lines for me." / Myslím, že je to dobré, pocit lepší, dobrá jízda...
"It's working [gearbox], I will try [to have some fun]" / Převodovka funguje, chci se bavit...
"It was horrible conditions, difficult to keep the car on the road, I thought we would roll. Not easy."
"Very tricky, other cars have been through here, but okay, still a bit of work to do!"
"It's better, very difficult to judge, you feel you can carry a lot more speed... It doesn't matter how much speed you carry." / Je to lepší, hodně těžko se to posuzuje, pocit, že můžete jet mnohem rychleji, ale nezáleží na tom, jakou rychlost snesete...
"I had a good run, I pushed very hard, but conditions are very tricky, so I had a couple of moments"
"We are through the stage with less problems than before."
"We pushed very hard, I knew he was going to push as well, but this is a very good time!"
"Very slippy, the most slippiest stage I have done so far in this rally, the lines are very narrow"
"I hope that on the next one I can have a bit more pace."
SS14
"It was very good start, we had a good lead, i'm excited, what better way to spend the day?" / Byl to dobrý začátek, jsem nadšený, že vedeme, jak lépe strávit den?
"It was very nice. Corners with the forest, a lot of fun! There is a lot of snow on the banks."
is moving again
off the road 6.3km into the stage
"This is what we are here for and trying to learn as much as we can."
"This morning's certainly been better, we've been able to adjust, we could be a lot faster this afternoon." / Ráno to bylo lepší, když se přizpůsobíme, mohli bychom být odpoledne rychlejší...
"All is good, but just a little bit of lost time on the stages, but okay, big experience for first run!"
"Not so bad, another clean good stage, not as bad as I thought!"
"Nice stage but the lines were different from the ones I wanted to use! I would like to stay on the road and feel it..."
"Not a great run, to be honest. There was a lot more loose snow in there, and we struggled."
"It's quite a good time, I tried to look out of the lines for traction. Not the best feeling, but the time is good." / Docela ucházející čas, snažil jsem se jet ve stopě kvůli trakci. Pocit není dobrý, ale čas ujde...
"Happy with my drive, I pushed very, very hard. The road is cleaning a lot in here.
"I touched a bank and spun. It took a long time to turn around because the road was so narrow. I was unlucky. It will be tough this afternoon but I will give it everything."
"We spun and got a little bit stuck on the snow bank."
"This stage was not for me. Quite slippery. I did all I could. I saw Bertelli. He was in a snow bank and will need quite a lot of spectators I think."
Off the road
SS13
"Not easy to go up against drivers with more experience of the conditions."
"I hoped to put more pressure on Ketomaa, but for now I'm going after Gorban." / Doufal jsem, že víc zatlačím na Ketomu, ale aktuálně jsem propadl až za Gorbana...
"We had a good lead and it's been a good morning. Everything is working perfectly." / Máme slušný náskok. Všechno funguje dobře...
"Today's stages don't suit me so well, but also I'm fighting with the car much more. We have some solutions in mind. I will try to change some settings before the next stage." / Dnešní zkoušky mi nesednou, dost bojuju s autem. Máme nějaký plán na změny nastavení. Před další zkouškou s tím zkusím něco udělat...
"Super Specials just don't work for me. They never have. I need to work on that. Perhaps I'll get down to a car-park with some cones and sort it out." / Speciálky mi nesednou. Musím na tom zapracovat. Pravděpodobně půjdu trénovat někam na parkoviště mezi kužely...
"It was okay, but the stage is getting worse with lots of fresh snow on top of the ice. Better than last year though - this was a nightmare for me last time."
"The feeling has been quite okay. We are not pushing like hell but we are looking for a good clean run. It's tricky with so much loose stuff on the road." / Pocit je ucházející. Netlačíme příliš na pilu, ale snažíme se udržet dobrou čistou jízdu. Je to zrádné s tou spoustou bordelu na trati...
"A lot of slide and after it wasn't possible to turn. We went a little bit off the road. It is normal!" / Hodně jsem se sklouznul a pak se nedařilo zatočit správným směrem. Byli jsme maličko mimo trať. Normálka...
"One more stage to go before the mechanics can fix it."
Off the road
"The ice is beginning to break up a bit now. That's making it very slippery." / Led se začíná trošku trhat. Kvůli tomu to dost klouže...
"It’s hard, I want to keep the car on the road but I’m really having a big rhythm so let’s see"
"Yes we will keep fighting for the podium!"
"It was a good start to the day, but then we lost time in the snow bank. We will try to fight as hard as we can and keep him behind. I try not to think too hard about it."
"It was good grip and I got a nice start but I struggled on the second corner, I was in the wrong gear and the engine bogged down."
It's ok, not bad to be in front on this SS. Still the same strategy: we know we're not in the best position but... you never know!
Not bad. We still have work to do on our pace notes but we are not too far from the top. I'm happy.
SS12
I haven't found the rhythm that I had yesterday. Also, the rear of the car is nervous and moving about under braking, which isn't very efficient. The good feeling is not there yet. I have a lot on my mind.
The road is getting slower and slower with every car. In the afternoon I expect conditions will be more even and we'll be able to pull further ahead.
It's getting better. One moment on a high speed section but okay, a good stage for us. Last year I was too slow here - you need confidence to push on. This time it was like a new stage for me.
"I feel quite good. Not bad. These two stages have been trouble-free."
The team tried everything to fix it [last night] but it's not right. On stage I have to change gears manually.
"The first stage was perfect, but this time I was struggling with the braking zones. That affected my rhythm."
"From corner to corner the grip is inconsistent. When the guys ahead touch a snow bank it dumps fresh snow on the road for us."
"An okay run. We felt we did alright in places. In other places we can improve. Confidence is key."
"I’m flat out everywhere! I can’t do more. I’m over the limit everywhere & it will be difficult but will fight."
"Not so good stage, in a ditch and filled the front with snow just before the end."
"No problem at all with the car"
I did two or three mistakes. Early on I couldn't keep the speed in a corner, ran wide and hit a snow bank. That cost me a second or two. After that I got a better rhythm.
This one was better, less loose snow on the surface, so it should be better for us. I guess I will lose less time. We'll see
SS11
I had a clean stage. A bit careful but conditions are very tricky, very slippery. It's hard. I want to increase my pace but the roads here are full of surprises. It's easy to go over the limit.
We've made a couple of changes to the set-up this morning but they've upset the rhythm. Not a great stage for us.
"The conditions are very different to yesterday. The grip was very poor but my drive was all okay - a nice stage. After only two-wheel drive yesterday all we can do now is try and learn."
"We hit a snow back and got stuck. We have another problem too - gear change."
"Clean through, no problems. Important to get through this first one. Now we need to pick the pace up."
"I was happy. A very good stage and good grip. I read the road very well."
It didn't feel too bad, but the time isn't there. I was perhaps a little too cautious in places.
"No dramas, just trying to get into a good rhythm. Conditions out there are pretty good."
"That was absolutely flat out."
"I slid wide, hit a bank and got a puncture. I carried on and it looks like there is more damage."
off road, stucked in snowbank
rear left puncture
Top ten would be good, but it's not going to be easy. Step by step.
No chance. So much snow. For sure the stage will get quicker for each car. We'll do what we can.
"First on the road is not easy - no lines on the road and no indication of the braking points."
SS10
". I hope the organisers can do something about the [unruly] spectators. I lost over 10 seconds [avoiding one] and Prokop did too. It cost me my chance of fighting for the victory earlier."
"We got through without fourth gear, and finally we can get back to service."
I am quite disappointed. It's not the easiest to find the motivation. We have work to do to get the focus back. I will try to find a good feeling for the driving. The plan now is to get myself back in a points position if I can.
SS9
"We slid off the line and got stuck in the snow. We were stopped for about two minutes."
"Really nice stage, the confidence is getting there. I just need more rhythm from the pace notes."
"I was struggling with the starts earlier in the event. Probably we already had a problem. I don’t know."
"The last two stages have been okay but I hope to do better tomorrow"
"The confidence is really coming now."
He has lost fourth gear
"I was going a bit too fast & then was stuck in the ditch. Car is ok, just got stuck."
Am I? Well, that makes things interesting. Sad for them, but if I know Ogier he won't give up.
'stuck in a ditch'...ss9 / Uvíznul v příkopu
We hit a snow bank in a slow corner, braked a bit too late. I though it would be okay - it wasn't. Just a mistake.
SS8
Definite improvement. I have found a better rhythm. That's something I have been lacking this afternoon.
"It was a very good stage but there was one very, very stupid guy, a spectator, on the long section and he was a serious distraction."
"I didn’t get enough turn into a junction, I used the handbrake and thought we’d bounce off a snow bank but instead we bounced up and got beached."
"Flat out everywhere! Time is not bad so it’s a good improvement. I have a good feeling and I push very hard."
We pushed very hard now. It's tricky.
"I don’t know with the time but feeling was good. I’m more confident now and happy with the car."
The wipers are still broken. It's snowing in this stage but we still can see enough
SS7
We have a problem with the turbo pop-off valve. We have no boost. We probably won't be able to fix it before service.
Diff, propshaft or a driveshaft. Now we have front-wheel-drive only. All we can do now is cruise through the rest of today's stages.
"Every time is better, better, better!"
I hit a snow bank. It's just a stupid mistake.I couldn't find the grip in a corner and I went off the road.
"Meeke went off after a crest."
"The conditions are equal now and it’s more interesting. I had a very nice stage!"
"One small mistake towards the end but otherwise all okay."
"This stage I had no problems, now I made another mistake by forgetting to put the bonnet pins in and broke the windscreen!"
SS6
retired for today
I don't like this stage, I'm pleased to finish it. My time is better on the second pass, so I'm happy.
"Completely different from the first time - a lot more difficult to drive. There is more loose snow, and the tyres are getting on top of it - lifting the studs from the ice."
"The wipers were blocked in the middle, I had to slow down."
SS4
I'm absolutely flat-out and doing my best.
I pushed like hell but the times are not there. I don't know why. That's how it is sometimes.
"I spun and lost about 20 seconds. It was quite high speed, I touched a snow bank and that spun us around 360 degrees. This is all new for me. This is part of the learning curve."
For sure it's nice, but the conditions are much more slippery than the previous one. It was an effort to keep the car on the road.
"The grip level in here wasn't so high and that knocked my confidence in the fast sections." / Přilnavost ke konci nebyla moc dobrá a já si přestal věřit."
It was actually quite a good stage - smooth and effective - but the other guys are very fast. Maybe the road was cleaner for them? I don't know.
"I had a good run but I hit a snow bank on a very fast section and lost some time but appart of that, clear run, nice SS!"
Now it's going in the right direction. I wasn't 100 per cent happy with the car, to be honest, but now the confidence is coming.
"No problem, just a hairpin I think. A good stage. I'm happy for now, it's a good time, I have to make up as much as I can." / Přední nárazník plný sněhu. "Asi z nějakého vracáku. Jsme spokojen, jedu jak jen mohu."
SS3
"I went into the corner, lost the rear and we went into the snow. A big thanks to the spectators who helped us, but for me the chance of a good result here is over."
"I stalled under braking, went straight on at a junction and had to reverse. A pity, because otherwise all good."
Grondal went off a little bit, but some people are helping him and I think he'll be back.
I have to make my notes a bit quicker - they need some adjustments after the recce at 70kph. But it's really enjoyable. It's a shame we lost the time on the first stage, but all part of the learning.
I lost visibility in a dip, and couldn't see the junction. I had to reverse out.
We have lost rear traction. So only front wheel drive. With no service we have to drive like this all day. It's crazy.
"Better than the first stage. No mistakes. Through with no problems."
"A clear stage for us. Good grip. I hope the time will not be so bad."
I'm pushing, but the times are not good enough. Has to be my driving.
"I was happy. I had a good rhythm. The snow banks are very high. I have to learn how to drive with the banks."
"A fantastic stage to drive! The notes were a bit cautious in the fast sections, so we can definitely look to improve there."
That's much better. The conditions are very, very good. I think it's better to be first on the road. Better conditions than I was expecting.
"That is not good. I thought I had a good run but the time is not there."
"Really nice. Conditions are beautiful. Lots of ice. Good fun, fast and narrow. On this one running first is quite okay."
SS2
I had a really nice enjoyable stage until the last Mickey Mouse section. My glasses steamed up, I couldn't see the corner properly and got stuck in the loose snow.
"I made a mistake and hit a snowbank. Had to reverse."
"Everything is OK, but I was pushing to much. Not good!"
A lot more slippery than I was expecting. I need time to find my rhythm. But I'm happy.
I didn't get the right feeling, but way better than last year.
It was OK, but we didn't get a good feeling in there.
"Not so happy with my run, difficult to estimate the grip. I try to do my best. Maybe I should take bit more risks."
It's a big advantage to be first on the road.
"I hit a hay bale and lost a lot of time in there. Not happy with that."
I'm struggeling in the junctions. Has to make some changes to the car.
I'm happy with my drive, but I've no idea about how fast this is.