2015 Rally Sweden
# 2015 Rally Sweden

The 2015 Rally Sweden was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over four days between 12 and 15 February 2015. It marked the sixty-third running of the Rally Sweden, and was the second round of the 2015 World Rally Championship, WRC-2 and WRC-3 seasons.

Sébastien Ogier won the rally on the last stage to extend his lead in the drivers' championship. The rally started with Pontus Tidemand, competing in a WRC-2 Ford Fiesta RRC, winning the Thursday night super special stage in Karlstad. Ogier took the lead on Friday's opening stage, with teammate Jari-Matti Latvala chasing him for the lead. Volkswagen's third driver, Andreas Mikkelsen gained the lead on the ninth stage, after Ogier and Latvala both hit snow banks, dropping to 4th and 23rd respectively. Mikkelsen kept the lead until Saturday's final stage, where Hyundai's Thierry Neuville took the lead after fitting new tyres for the stage; Mikkelsen and Ogier were both in contention however, at deficits of 1.5 and 9.6 seconds respectively. Mikkelsen regained the lead on Sunday's opening stage, and held a three-second lead over Ogier ahead of the final stage, Värmullsåsen, which was also the event's power stage, offering additional drivers' championship points.

Running in reverse order to their rally positions, Ogier bested Neuville's time for the stage – ultimately, the stage's fastest time – and just after he completed the stage, Mikkelsen hit a snow bank and lost 40 seconds to fall behind Neuville in the standings as well. Ott Tänak finished fourth to record his best WRC result since 2012, while Hayden Paddon recorded his best WRC finish – replacing the injured Dani Sordo – in fifth position. Next in the order was British duo Elfyn Evans and Kris Meeke, Martin Prokop finished eighth ahead of Yuriy protasov, who took his first WRC stage win, on the Kirkenær stage. Completing the championship points was Mads Østberg, who was in position for a podium spot, until he hit a snow bank on the eleventh stage. He also scored an extra point by finishing third on the power stage. After the last stage, Volkswagen Motorsport decided to retire Latvala's car – he had managed to recover up the order to 12th place – due to a rules loophole in relation to the following event, Rally México.

## Entry list

| No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Cl. | Eligibility |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sébastien Ogier | Julien Ingrassia | Volkswagen Motorsport | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | RC1 | M |
| 2 | Jari-Matti Latvala | Miikka Anttila | Volkswagen Motorsport | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | RC1 | M |
| 3 | Kris Meeke | Paul Nagle | Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team | Citroën DS3 WRC | RC1 | M |
| 4 | Mads Østberg | Jonas Andersson | Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team | Citroën DS3 WRC | RC1 | M |
| 5 | Elfyn Evans | Daniel Barritt | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | M |
| 6 | Ott Tänak | Raigo Mõlder | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | M |
| 7 | Thierry Neuville | Nicolas Gilsoul | Hyundai Motorsport | Hyundai i20 WRC | RC1 | M |
| 8 | Hayden Paddon | John Kennard | Hyundai Motorsport | Hyundai i20 WRC | RC1 | M |
| 9 | Andreas Mikkelsen | Ola Fløene | Volkswagen Motorsport II | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | RC1 | T |
| 14 | Henning Solberg | Ilka Minor | Adapta Motorsport AS | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | |
| 16 | Robert Kubica | Maciej Szczepaniak | Robert Kubica | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | |
| 17 | Yuriy Protasov | Pavlo Cherepin | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | |
| 18 | Michał Sołowow | Maciej Baran | Synthos Cersanit Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | |
| 20 | Kevin Abbring | Sebastian Marshall | Hyundai Motorsport N | Hyundai i20 WRC | RC1 | T |
| 21 | Martin Prokop | Jan Tománek | Jipocar Czech National Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | T |
| 31 | Yazeed Al-Rajhi | Michael Orr | Yazeed Racing | Ford Fiesta RRC | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 32 | Stéphane Lefebvre | Stéphane Prévot | PH Sport | Citroën DS3 R5 | RC2 | |
| 33 | Max Rendina | Mario Pizzuti | Motorsport Italia s.r.l. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 36 | Fredrik Åhlin | Morten Erik Abrahamsen | Fredrik Åhlin | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 37 | Lorenzo Bertelli | Giovanni Bernacchini | FWRT s.r.l. | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | RC1 | T |
| 38 | Anders Grøndal | Roger Eilertsen | Anders Grøndal | Citroën DS3 R5 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 39 | Pontus Tidemand | Emil Axelsson | Pontus Tidemand | Ford Fiesta RRC | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 40 | Jari Ketomaa | Kaj Lindström | Drive DMACK | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 41 | Valeriy Gorban | Volodymyr Korsia | Eurolamp World Rally Team | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 42 | Oleksiy Kikireshko | Kuldar Sikk | Eurolamp World Rally Team | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 43 | Radik Shaymiev | Maxim Tsvetkov | TAIF Rally Team | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 44 | Jarosław Kołtun | Ireneusz Pleskot | C-Rally | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 45 | Gianluca Linari | Nicola Arena | Gianluca Linari | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 53 | Ole Christian Veiby | Anders Jæger | Printsport | Citroën DS3 R3T | RC3 | WRC-3 |
| 71 | Eyvind Brynildsen | Anders Fredriksson | Drive DMACK | Ford Fiesta RRC | RC2 | WRC-2 |
| 72 | Robin Friberg | Stefan Gustavsson | Robin Friberg | Citroën DS3 R5 | RC2 | |
| 74 | Frank Tore Larsen | Torstein Eriksen | Frank Tore Larsen | Ford Fiesta R5 | RC2 | |
| 75 | Thomas Thunström | Jörgen Lindahl | Thomas Thunström | Citroën DS3 R5 | RC2 | |

## Results

### Event standings

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Car | Class | Time | Difference | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Overall classification ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Sébastien Ogier | Julien Ingrassia | Volkswagen Motorsport | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | WRC | 2:55:30.5 | 0.0 | 28 |
| 2 | 7 | Thierry Neuville | Nicolas Gilsoul | Hyundai Motorsport | Hyundai i20 WRC | WRC | 2:55:36.9 | +6.4 | 20 |
| 3 | 9 | Andreas Mikkelsen | Ola Fløene | Volkswagen Motorsport II | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | WRC | 2:56:10.3 | +39.8 | 15 |
| 4 | 6 | Ott Tänak | Raigo Mőlder | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | WRC | 2:57:56.5 | +2:26.0 | 12 |
| 5 | 8 | Hayden Paddon | John Kennard | Hyundai Motorsport | Hyundai i20 WRC | WRC | 2:59:02.0 | +3:31.5 | 10 |
| 6 | 5 | Elfyn Evans | Daniel Barritt | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | WRC | 2:59:23.5 | +3:53.0 | 8 |
| 7 | 3 | Kris Meeke | Paul Nagle | Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën DS3 WRC | WRC | 2:59:36.3 | +4:05.8 | 6 |
| 8 | 21 | Martin Prokop | Jan Tománek | Jipocar Czech National Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | WRC | 2:59:56.5 | +4:26.0 | 4 |
| 9 | 17 | Yuriy Protasov | Pavlo Cherepin | M-Sport World Rally Team | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | WRC | 3:01:02.7 | +5:32.2 | 2 |
| 10 | 4 | Mads Østberg | Jonas Andersson | Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT | Citroën DS3 WRC | WRC | 3:02:21.4 | +6:50.9 | 2 |
| WRC-2 standings ||||||||||
| 1 (13.) | 40 | Jari Ketomaa | Kaj Lindström | Drive DMACK | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2 | 3:05:07.4 | 0.0 | 25 |
| 2 (14.) | 71 | Eyvind Brynildsen | Anders Fredriksson | Drive DMACK | Ford Fiesta RRC | WRC-2 | 3:04:40.0 | +32.6 | 18 |
| 3 (15.) | 41 | Valeriy Gorban | Volodymyr Korsia | Eurolamp World Rally Team | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | WRC-2 | 3:08:34.8 | +3:27.4 | 15 |
| 4 (16.) | 31 | Yazeed Al-Rajhi | Michael Orr | Yazeed Racing | Ford Fiesta RRC | WRC-2 | 3:08:47.6 | +2:40.2 | 12 |
| 5 (17.) | 39 | Pontus Tidemand | Emil Axelsson | Pontus Tidemand | Ford Fiesta RRC | WRC-2 | 3:08:50.9 | +3:43.5 | 10 |
| 6 (18.) | 36 | Fredrik Åhlin | Morten Erik Abrahamsen | Fredrik Åhlin | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2 | 3:09:42.0 | +4:34.6 | 8 |
| 7 (23.) | 44 | Jaroslaw Koltun | Ireneusz Pleskot | C-Rally | Ford Fiesta R5 | WRC-2 | 3:17:26.5 | +12:19.1 | 6 |
| 8 (24.) | 42 | Oleksiy Kikireshko | Kuldar Sikk | Eurolamp World Rally Team | Mini John Cooper Works S2000 | WRC-2 | 3:19:33.1 | +14:25.7 | 4 |
| 9 (25.) | 81 | Simone Tempestini | Matteo Chiarcossi | Napoca Rally Academy | Subaru Impreza WRX STi | WRC-2 | 3:23:58.0 | +18:50.6 | 2 |
| 10 (26.) | 38 | Anders Grøndal | Roger Eilertsen | Anders Grøndal | Citroën DS3 R5 | WRC-2 | 3:26:54.4 | +21:47.0 | 1 |
| WRC-3 standings ||||||||||
| 1 (21.) | 53 | Ole Christian Veiby | Anders Jæger | Printsport | Citroën DS3 R3T | WRC-3 | 3:16:03.5 | 0.0 | 25 |

## Special stages

| Day | Stage number | Stage name | Length | Stage winner | Car No. | Team | Time | Avg. spd. | Rally leader |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 12 Feb | SS1 | Karlstad Super-Special 1 | 1.90 km | Pontus Tidemand Emil Axelsson | 39 | Pontus Tidemand | 1:32.1 | 74.27 km/h | Pontus Tidemand Emil Axelsson |
| 13 Feb | SS2 | Torsby 1 | 14.76 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 8:36.6 | 102.86 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS3 | Röjden 1 | 18.73 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 9:59.4 | 112.49 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS4 | Finnskogen 1 | 20.76 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila | 2 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 11:03.1 | 112.71 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS5 | Kirkenær 1 | 7.07 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 5:26.7 | 77.91 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS6 | Kirkenær 2 | 7.07 km | Yuriy Protasov Pavlo Cherepin | 17 | M-Sport World Rally Team | 5:34.4 | 76.11 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS7 | Finnskogen 2 | 20.76 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila | 2 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 11:04.3 | 112.50 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS8 | Röjden 2 | 18.73 km | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene | 9 | Volkswagen Motorsport II | 10:01.1 | 112.17 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |
| 13 Feb | SS9 | Torsby 2 | 14.76 km | Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul | 7 | Hyundai Motorsport | 8:40.4 | 102.11 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 13 Feb | SS10 | Karlstad Super-Special 2 | 1.90 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 1:34.5 | 72.38 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS11 | Fredriksberg 1 | 18.15 km | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene | 9 | Volkswagen Motorsport II | 10:33.9 | 103.08 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS12 | Rämmen 1 | 22.76 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 11:36.5 | 117.64 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS13 | Hagfors Sprint 1 | 1.87 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 1:51.2 | 60.54 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS14 | Vargåsen 1 | 24.63 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 13:34.1 | 108.92 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS15 | Fredriksberg 2 | 18.15 km | Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul | 7 | Hyundai Motorsport | 10:27.6 | 104.11 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS16 | Rämmen 2 | 22.76 km | Kris Meeke Paul Nagle | 3 | Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team | 11:38.5 | 117.30 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS17 | Hagfors Sprint 1 | 1.87 km | Robert Kubica Maciek Szczepaniak | 16 | Robert Kubica | 1:57.1 | 57.49 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS18 | Vargåsen 2 | 24.63 km | Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul | 7 | Hyundai Motorsport | 13:24.4 | 110.23 km/h | Thierry Neuville Nicolas Gilsoul |
| 15 Feb | SS19 | Lesjöfors | 15.00 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 9:05.8 | 98.94 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS20 | Värmullsåsen 1 | 15.87 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila | 2 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 8:14.1 | 115.63 km/h | Andreas Mikkelsen Ola Fløene |
| 15 Feb | SS21 | Värmullsåsen 2 (Power stage) | 15.87 km | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia | 1 | Volkswagen Motorsport | 8:05.6 | 117.65 km/h | Sébastien Ogier Julien Ingrassia |

Notes:

* ^1 — The Röjden stage started in Sweden and finished in Norway after crossing the Sweden-Norway border.

### Power Stage

The "Power stage" was the second running of the 15.87 km (9.86 mi) Värmullsåsen stage at the end of the rally, which awarded championship points to the fastest three drivers through the stage.

| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time | Diff. | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sébastien Ogier | Volkswagen Polo R WRC | 8:05.6 | 0.0 | 3 |
| 2 | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai i20 WRC | 8:10.4 | +4.8 | 2 |
| 3 | Mads Østberg | Citroën DS3 WRC | 8:15.5 | +9.9 | 1 |
