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Every round of WRC is unique but Swedish Rally is one of the truly unique events, being the only winter event of the series. One might think that rally over snow and ice would mean extremely slippery conditions. Use of very narrow tyres coupled with impressive studs however provide lots of grip. So much that drivers reckon it to exceed that of most gravel rallies, even.
Another specialty of the event is the proper use of snow banks. Driver can enter bends with considerable speed and lean the rear of the car to a snow bank. If executed properly, the snow keeps the car on the road. Plough into snow bank head-on or at incorrect angle and you end up digging the car out. For a first-timer judging the amount of grip and proper leaning on snow banks is formidable challenge. It is no wonder that driver outside Scandinavia did not managed to win the event until Sebastien Loeb broke the spell in 2004.
From time to time event has had problems with weather conditions. Mid-winter date has not always assured frozen roads and event has been under pressure to move northward to guarantee snowy conditions. Studded tyres wreak havoc on roads if they are not frozen and warmer the weather, the more repairing the roads will cost to the organisers. In 1990 lack of snow forced the cancellation of the event.
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| 1973:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Saab 96 V4
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70.90 km/h
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| 1975:
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Waldegard, Bjorn
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Lancia Stratos HF
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| 1976:
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Eklund, Per
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Saab 96 V4
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| 1977:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Saab 99EMS
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58.72 km/h
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| 1978:
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Waldegard, Bjorn
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Ford Escort RS
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89.21 km/h
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| 1979:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Saab 99 Turbo
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96.20 km/h
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| 1980:
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Kullang, Anders
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Opel Ascona 400
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96.21 km/h
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| 1981:
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Mikkola, Hannu
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Audi quattro
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97.06 km/h
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| 1982:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Audi quattro
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96.03 km/h
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| 1983:
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Mikkola, Hannu
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Audi quattro A1
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104.94 km/h
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| 1984:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Audi quattro A2
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104.62 km/h
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| 1985:
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Vatanen, Ari
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Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
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110.53 km/h
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| 1986:
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Kankkunen, Juha
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Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2
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108.00 km/h
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| 1987:
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Salonen, Timo
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Mazda 323 4WD
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96.17 km/h
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| 1988:
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Alen, Markku
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Lancia Delta HF 4WD
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96.99 km/h
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| 1989:
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Carlsson, Ingvar
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Mazda 323 4WD
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101.47 km/h
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| 1991:
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Eriksson, Kenneth
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Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
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105.29 km/h
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| 1992:
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Jonsson, Mats
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Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
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105.57 km/h
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| 1993:
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Jonsson, Mats
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
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107.85 km/h
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| 1995:
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Eriksson, Kenneth
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II
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103.16 km/h
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| 1996:
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Makinen, Tommi
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III
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106.21 km/h
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| 1997:
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Eriksson, Kenneth
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Subaru Impreza WRC97
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106.80 km/h
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| 1998:
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Makinen, Tommi
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
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107.50 km/h
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| 1999:
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Makinen, Tommi
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
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110.19 km/h
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| 2000:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206 WRC
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112.61 km/h
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| 2001:
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Rovanpera, Harri
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Peugeot 206WRC (2000)
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110.10 km/h
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| 2002:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206WRC (2001)
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114.83 km/h
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| 2003:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206WRC (2002)
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116.18 km/h
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| 2004:
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Loeb, Sebastien
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Citroen Xsara WRC
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114.83 km/h
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| 2005:
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Solberg, Petter
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Subaru Impreza WRC2004
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111.31 km/h
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| 2006:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Ford Focus RS WRC 06
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110.78 km/h
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| 2007:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Ford Focus RS WRC 06
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108.79 km/h
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| 2008:
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Latvala, Jari-Matti
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Ford Focus RS WRC 07
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111.26 km/h
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Loix demonstrates leaning on snow banks and how it's done
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Sainz tackling snowless roads in '99
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Auriol with narrow studded snow tyre
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Driver wins
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Blomqvist, Stig (5)
Gronholm, Marcus (5)
Eriksson, Kenneth (3)
Makinen, Tommi (3)
Jonsson, Mats (2)
Mikkola, Hannu (2)
Waldegard, Bjorn (2)
Alen, Markku (1)
Carlsson, Ingvar (1)
Eklund, Per (1)
Kankkunen, Juha (1)
Kullang, Anders (1)
Latvala, Jari-Matti (1)
Loeb, Sebastien (1)
Rovanpera, Harri (1)
Salonen, Timo (1)
Solberg, Petter (1)
Vatanen, Ari (1)
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Manufacturer wins
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Peugeot (6)
Mitsubishi (5)
Audi (4)
Ford (4)
Saab (4)
Lancia (2)
Mazda (2)
Subaru (2)
Toyota (2)
Citroen (1)
Opel (1)
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