Elfyn Evans leads Rally Sweden after Umeå Sprint

Elfyn Evans leads Rally Sweden after the opening Umeå Sprint stage, clocking a time just 0.5 seconds ahead of teammates Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tänak. The conditions are described as optimal, with a solid ice base and high snowbanks enhancing speed. Despite struggling with understeer, Hyundai's Ott Tänak managed to maintain a competitive position, while teammate Thierry Neuville faced significant challenges, finishing further back due to massive understeer issues. Other notable performances include Takamoto Katsuta and rookie Josh McErlean, who showed impressive form early in the rally. The first full day of competitive stages is set to cover 124.32 kilometers, promising to be the longest and most challenging of the event. Drivers are adjusting their setups to optimize performance on the new Hanook tires amidst varied conditions.