Abu Dhabi: Three cars have been entered by the Abu Dhabi Total WRT at Rally Sweden from February 11-14. Following their impressive performance in Monte-Carlo, Kris Meeke & Paul Nagle will be joined in Scandinavia by Shaikh Khalid Al Qassimi & Chris Patterson and Craig Breen & Scott Martin. Each crew will have to negotiate different challenges at one of the most demanding, atypical events of the season.
The only full winter rally on the calendar, Rally Sweden is always eagerly awaited by fans of the WRC. The World Rally Cars are able to drift around the corners of the icy roads at speeds in excess of 160kph thanks to the grip afforded by the Michelin studded tyres. The crews and photographers love it here, as do the many spectators who brave the cold conditions to get a glimpse of their heroes on the stages. In Scandinavia, rallying is part and parcel of the local culture.
As the weather has been fairly mild for the last few weeks, conditions for the 2016 event look set to be very difficult. Even if temperatures drop dramatically and there is heavy snowfall, the snow banks lining the stages will in all likelihood remain too soft and the slightest error will almost certainly mean the crews having to dig themselves out of the snow.
Already in the limelight at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Abu Dhabi Total WRT will take another step forward this weekend in entering three cars at this round. On his sixth appearance in Sweden, Shaikh Khalid will be the team’s most experienced driver. Winner of the prestigious Colin’s Crest trophy in 2008 – which rewards the longest jump on the Vargåsen stage, in memory of the late Colin McRae – the Abu Dhabi driver enjoys this event despite the fact it could not be any further removed from the deserts of the Middle East.
