WRC – #02 Sweden
UNTIL THE END
The rally stage that opened the 2015 season, in MonteCarlo, was as always exciting and full of surprises, though, the final outcome, seemed a bit ‘obvious and predictable. The second stage in Sweden, which is the only rally that runs completely on snowy terrain, has been definitely up to the expectations that every year we have towards the toughest and spectacular rally championship in the world. Defending champion and championship leader Sebastien Ogier, manages to race up front in the early stages, while VW teammate, Latvala is slowed by a mistake. The second day of the rally, however, mixed all the first positions, not only because of an error of the same Ogier, but also thanks to the crazy performance by Mikkelsen and Neuville. The third Polo and the Belgian driver’s Hyundai were protagonist until the end, with a gap that first thins and then becomes again more significant. During Stage 21, Neuville keeps the infernal pace but can’t get better than the second position, while the leader of the moment, Andreas Mikkelsen, sees fade his dreams of glory for his first win in WRC, due to a mistake that cost him too many seconds and enable Ogier to get back in the lead. The French champion wins the second rally stage with just 6.4 seconds ahead of Neuville, maintaining and strengthening the leadership with 53 points, followed by Mikkelsen and Neuville at 30, Latvala at 19 and Ostberg at 14. Next stage is set for the weekend of March 5, for the Rally of Mexico.