A rally that smiles on him: Toyota will try from Thursday to maintain its rank on the Swedish Rally, carried by its world champion Kalle Rovanperä, in search of a first victory this season.
For the second round of the WRC World Rally Championship contested since last season on the edge of the Arctic Circle, the Japanese manufacturer, based on the other side of the border, in Finland, knows that it is leaving with a sizeable advantage: trust.
In the last five rallies contested since 2017, the team has won four times in Scandinavia, the only event of the season contested in 100% winter conditions.
Toyota will however have to do without the services of Frenchman Sébastien Ogier, winner of the Monte-Carlo rally in January, the inaugural round of the season.
Like last season, the current championship leader is engaged in a partial program with the Japanese brand.
He is already expected on the next rally, in Mexico, from March 16 to 19.
In the meantime, it's his 22-year-old teammate Kalle Rovanperä, who won in Sweden last year, who will put the throttle to regain control of the general standings.
The Finn will however have to open the road on Friday, and therefore sweep the track due to his position in the championship (second behind Ogier).
"
His chances (of victory, editor's note) will depend on whether or not there is a good layer of ice
," explains Toyota boss Jari-Matti Latvala.
Snow or ice?
In addition to the weather conditions, Rovanperä will also have to be wary of his teammates, starting with the Briton Elfyn Evans, winner in 2020 with Toyota.
Opposite, at Hyundai, this rally will be an opportunity for Thierry Neuville, 3rd in Monte-Carlo, to take his revenge on the Japanese firm.
"
We showed that we could be competitive on snow and ice last year, let's hope it's the same this year
", aspires the Belgian.
Second in 2021, he is the only driver to have thwarted Toyota's plans in Sweden in recent years after his victory, already with Hyundai, in 2018. The Finn Esapekka Lappi, 3rd last year on Toyota, will also be there but for Hyundai this time.
Estonian Ott Tänak, winner of the event in 2019 with Toyota and spent this season at M-Sport Ford, could also be on the podium.
But here again, believes the 2019 world champion, the ground conditions will be decisive: "
if there is ice, it is better to leave first, but if there is a lot of snow, it will be the opposite.
".
He will start 4th on Friday.
The only Frenchman entered in the event in the premier category, his teammate Pierre-Louis Loubet will want to turn the page on a nightmarish Monte-Carlo rally, marred by mechanical problems.
For his first full season in the WRC, if the podium will be difficult to achieve, the objective will first be “
to acquire as much experience as possible
”.