Colin’s Crest is one of the most delightful parts of Rally Sweden. Every year, the organizers have a mini competition on the Vargåsen stage as to who jumps the farthest over one particular crazy fast jump. Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville didn’t win the Colin’s Crest Award, but his jump was insane for other reasons.
Rally Sweden was a winter wonderland this year, but not for the drivers who went first. The first cars on a snowy stage inevitably act as snowplows for everyone behind them—and those later competitors then go faster on the clearer roads. One driver at Sweden had enough, so he arrived late to one stage, breaking the…
World Rally Championship driver Mads Østberg lost a wing on his Ford Fiesta during Rally Sweden at speeds of nearly 124 mph. The sudden loss of downforce was a butt-puckering moment for sure, and made the car a handful to drive. Fortunately, fans found the wing and delivered it back to Østberg’s team.
Every year, the World Rally Championship’s trip to Sweden is a real treat. This year, it’s back to its usual Hoth-like form, covered in glorious snow and ice that allows the cars’ studded tires to reach ludicrous speeds on the stages. Let’s gaze in awe at the jumps from this year’s Rally Sweden—including the mega-jump…
There’s nothing worse than watching a race you should be racing in, but aren’t. Behold, the infinite sadness that has befallen the winner of Volkswagen’s very last race in the World Rally Championship, Andreas Mikkelsen.
In 2012, British rally driver Louise Cook won the two-wheel-drive FIA Production Car Cup title, and became the first woman to win an FIA rally title. After sponsors backed out days before the Rally Sweden deadline, Cook put the trophy on eBay to raise the entry fees, reports Racer. Man, that’s dedication.
Rally Sweden has a unique competition within the competition: Colin’s Crest. Whoever jumps this particular crest on the Vargåsen stage of the rally the farthest achieves instant legend status. This year, a humble Ford Fiesta R5 from the support series crushed the previous record with a mind blowing 45-meter jump.
Just two races into the FIA World Rally Championship season, a disagreement between drivers and organizers led to plans for a boycott by competitors. That plan failed to materialize, but did get nearly half of the stages cut from the rally.
Kris Meeke doesn't care that it's dark or icy during this test for Rally Sweden. Not one bit. He still goes ridiculously quick anyway. Oh, and ridiculously sideways.
Winter rallies pose another challenge that you may not think of: everything is white. Driving into the sun is bad enough. Driving into the sun surrounded by blindingly white snow is a whole 'nother problem. Watch World Rally Championship driver Andreas Mikkelsen do it right.
Whatever you do, don't hit the piles of white fluffy stuff by the side of the road. Here are the highlights from this weekend's Rally Sweden, in all their snowbank-plowing glory.
World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville just destroyed the jump record at Colin's Crest during Rally Sweden with a 44-meter tribute to the art of flight. It's so direct. Smooth. Fast. Why go down the hill when you can simply fly over it?
This is Kris Meeke testing for the upcoming 2015 Rally Sweden. What he does with his Citroën WRC car defies belief.
Well, technically it's 24 and a half minutes. But if you're one of those strange people who pines for the beach in the middle of a blizzard, let last year's Rally Sweden convince you that humanity is always destined to triumph over snow. By driving very, very fast through it.
I've seen all kinds of jumps from drunk, wannabe Duke Boys morons, but I've got to show respect for Sebastien Ogier jumping over 134 feet in competition during this year's Rally Sweden.
This is Czech WRC privateer Martin Prokop thanking his fans for pulling him out of a ditch at Rally Sweden over the weekend. Look at how he gives them a delightful tug, throwing them to the ground in appreciation.
Rally Sweden is in full swing at the moment, so here's a look back at the 1986 running of the event. It was in the midst of the Group B era, and also the first event for the legendary Ford RS200.
