First held in 1950, Rally Sweden moved north to Umeå in 2022 to guarantee the deep snow and thick ice required for a world-class winter event.

The defining feature of this rally is the specialised Hankook Winter i*Pike tires, each fitted with tungsten-tipped studs that bite through the ice to provide incredible traction. This grip allows drivers to “lean” their cars against the frozen snowbanks to carry extra speed through corners – a high-stakes technique that can easily backfire if the banks are soft, sucking the car into a snowy grave. The 2026 route introduces a revamped Bygdsiljum stage, now the longest test of the rally at over 27km, featuring a brand-new opening section.

Reliability is also tested to the limit here; mechanics must perform intricate repairs in temperatures that can plummet to -25°C, while drivers must adapt to the unique “floating” sensation of the car as it dances between the banks at nearly 200kph.