History 2000s

2001 Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2001 Swedish Rally (Sweden)

Date: February 9–11, 2001

Start Location: Karlstad, Sweden

Finish Location: Karlstad, Sweden

Total Distance: ~1,500 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~380 km

Surface: Snow

The 2001 Swedish Rally presented ideal winter rallying conditions — deep snowbanks, frozen roads, and subzero temperatures. Harri Rovanperä took full advantage, showcasing fearless speed and composure to dominate the event and score his maiden WRC win in the Peugeot 206 WRC. It was a proud moment for both the Finnish driver and the French manufacturer.

Route

Hagfors: Smooth, packed-snow surface with long sweeping corners — rewarded bravery and throttle balance.
Torsby: Narrow and lined with snowbanks — used tactically by drivers for extra cornering support.
Fredriksberg: Featured long straights and tight transitions — studded tires were essential for maximizing grip.

Held in the forests of Värmland, the Swedish stages are among the fastest in WRC when run in deep snow. Key stages included:

Temperatures stayed consistently cold, preserving the snowbanks and delivering optimal rally conditions throughout the weekend.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Harri Rovanperä & Risto Pietiläinen · Peugeot 206 WRC
2nd Place
Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 206 WRC
3rd Place
Tommi Mäkinen & Risto Mannisenmäki · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI

Rovanperä set the tone from day one and kept the lead throughout, with teammate Grönholm backing off to secure a safe 1–2 for Peugeot. Mäkinen pushed hard but couldn’t match the French cars’ pace in the snow.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Strategy: Drivers leaned into the banks for support — but too much risked getting stuck or rolling.
  • Studded Tires: Precision braking and acceleration depended on maintaining sharp tire studs throughout the rally.
  • Driver Rhythm: Fast average speeds demanded perfect pacenote syncing — especially in long sequences of blind crests and sweeping turns.

Harri Rovanperä’s win in Sweden marked a highlight of his career and cemented his place in WRC history as one of the snow masters of the early 2000s.

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