Rally Sweden: Nordic Škoda drivers push for top results in the chase for WRC2 points

› Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews from Finland and Sweden are among the favourites for WRC2 victory at the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship
› Finns Mikko Heikkilä and Lauri Joona, as well as local hero Isak Reiersen, are set to reprise their top results in the WRC2 category from last year's Rally Sweden
› With 14 private Škoda crews on the entry list, the Czech brand is again the most popular among the WRC2 competitors

Mladá Boleslav, 11 February 2026 – With Rally Sweden (12-15 February 2026), the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) enters winter wonderland. 14 competitors with Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 are entered into the WRC2 category. Among the candidates for the WRC2 victory are Mikko Heikkilä/Kristian Temonen and Lauri Joona/Antti Linnaketo, both from Finland, and Swedish pairing Isak Reiersen/Stefan Gustavsson.

Based in Umeå in the far north of the country, Rally Sweden features ultra-fast forest roads that are completely covered in snow and ice. Consequently, a special type of tyre is mandatory for only the second round of the 2026 WRC season: Each tyre is equipped with 384 tungsten-made studs. Per regulation, the studs may not exceed 20 millimetres in length.

Škoda crews have built up an impressive track record at Rally Sweden in recent years: They won the WRC2 category in 2022, in 2023 and again in 2024. This time around, Škoda drivers from the Nordic countries are aiming to continue this successful streak. Mikko Heikkilä from Finland finished third in WRC2 last year and is aiming for another top result. “I can’t wait to tackle these fabulous, fast stages. My Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 is perfectly suited to these conditions,” says the 34-year-old. Together with co-driver Kristian Temonen, he prepared for the only true winter event in the WRC calendar by competing the Finnish Championship round Arctic Lapland Rally in January. The crew of Škoda Motorsport customer team TGS Worldwide reached fifth position overall.

Lauri Joona, another Finnish driver now at the wheel of a TGS Worldwide run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, celebrated fourth position in WRC2 at last year’s Rally Sweden. He and co-driver Antti Linnaketo not only competed Arctic Lapland Rally as well but also used the Finnish Championship round SM Ralli Mikkeli as preparation. A fourth and second position overall respectively, raised Lauri Joona’s hopes of gaining more WRC2 points at Rally Sweden. Isak Reiersen will be carrying the Swedish flag on his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 operated by team JC Raceteknik. Together with co-driver, Stefan Gustavsson, he is aiming to beat the Finnish competition on home soil.

But not only Nordic rally aces are facing the unique challenge of a full-snow rally: Mattéo Chatillon/Maxence Cornuau bring their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 from France, brand colleagues Giovanni Trentin/Pietro Elia Ometto are travelling from Italy to Umeå. The Škoda drivers with the longest journey are arguably Alejandro Mauro and Miguel Granados from Mexico, as well as Brazilian Cristian Baumgart. In total, the entry list features 14 Škoda crews. However, Italian Roberto Daprà and Frenchman Eric Camilli, who scored WRC2 points during the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo, will not be competing in Sweden.

At Rally Sweden, Škoda Motorsport's white and green service truck will once again be an important part of the service park. Teams running Škoda vehicles can purchase spare parts and receive support from Škoda Motorsport technicians there. This service is offered by Škoda Motorsport at selected European rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship and the FIA European Rally Championship.

Rally Sweden kicks off on Thursday evening (12 February) with a 10.23 kilometres long stage finishing at the famous Red Barn Arena close to the city of Umeå. On Friday, the teams must master seven special stages covering 124.88 kilometres. On Saturday, again seven stages with a total of 104.42 kilometres follow. Three stages over 61.13 kilometres close the event on Sunday. In total, the competitive distance will be 300.66 kilometres.

Did you know, that…

...Rally Sweden only became a winter rally in 1965?
...It was held for the first time in 1950, but in mid-summer under the name of “Rally to the Midnight Sun”?
...every crew must have a shovel on board to be able to dig their car out of the snow in case of an off?
...Pavel Sibera/Petr Gross won their class in 1993 with a Škoda Favorit 136L?

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 1 of 14 events)
1 Léo Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 25 points
2 Roberto Daprà (ITA), Škoda, 17 points
3 Arthur Pelamourgues (FRA), Hyundai, 15 points
4 Eric Camilli (FRA), Škoda, 12 points
5 Chris Ingram (GBR), Toyota, 10 points

2026 FIA World Rally Championship

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