Swedish Rally
February 11-14

It might be some time away, but that’s the nature of this year’s shortened World Rally Championship – a three-month gap before the start of next season. But the Swedish Rally will be the next event for Conrad. The Swedish did not run in 2009 – it was part of the WRC’s rotational policy – but it is back and looking better than ever in 2010.
The event is, once again, based out of Karlstad. But this time, the ceremonial start is the only significant happening in Karlstad. The rest of the event is further north, centred on a service park at Hagfors airport. And on day one, Conrad and the other drivers will be going even further north, for a remote service around Torsby – which brings back classic stages like Sagen.

The organisers have worked with the route in order to ensure snow-covered roads after they struggled with warm weather conditions last time out in 2008. The Swedish Rally is the WRC’s original  winter rally – and it’s a massive favourite with the fans. With the return to the north, round one of next year’s series is certain to be a hit again.

All of the drivers winter rallies. There’s nothing like that feeling of drifting the car in top gear. You get so much grip from the spiked tyres, you can hardly believe it. I’d say there’s more grip on good snow and ice than you get on wet gravel.

It’s amazing. Having said that, that’s when the conditions are perfect – if we get rain and miserable weather then it can be really tough. If the ice cover isn’t complete then you get rutted roads and gravel showing through – that starts to rip the spikes out of the tyres which means when you do come to some ice, you don’t have the same stopping power.

Let’s not think about that. I’m sure the Swedish Rally will be an absolute classic, especially with it going back further north. I’m really looking forward to it already; it’s just a shame it’s so long away!