The Oman Rally Team duo of Abdullah Al-Rawahi and Ata Al-Hmoud are set to take part in this year’s five-round FIA Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) and the opening round sees them heading to Scandinavia for this weekend’s world-famous Rally Sweden.
The only traditional snow rally in the WRC calendar moved north to the city of Umeå in 2022 and the crew will tackle 18 special stages in a traditional winter wonderland with snow-covered stages and the use of studded tyres a necessity.
Drivers traditionally lean their cars against the snow banks to obtain the best line through the fast-flowing forest stages. The tyres provide remarkable grip but drivers must adjust their driving style and braking points accordingly in the sub-zero temperatures.
All crews taking part in the JWRC use identical M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars running on Pirelli tyres. The series is open to drivers under the age of 29 who have not competed as a Priority 1 driver in a WRC event.
The JWRC has attracted 19 entries and competitors from 21 different nations. The series will be fought out over additional events in Croatia (April 18-21), Sardinia (May 30-June 2), Finland (August 1-4) and Greece (September 5-8). Double points will be on offer at the last round in Greece for drivers who have entered at least three JWRC rounds.
The first prize is an arrive and drive package to contest four European rounds of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 car.
Al-Rawahi’s rivals include Bolivians Nataniel Bruun and Bruno Bulacia, Ireland’s Eamonn Kelly, Paraguay’s Diego Dominguez, Chile’s Gerardo Valenzeula, the Spanish duo of Raúl Hernández and Roberto Blach, Belgium’s Tom Rensonnet and Poland’s Jakub Matulka. Mikke Johansson represents the host nation.
Rally Sweden is based at the Nolia Exhibition Centre in Umeå. After a short shakedown stage on Thursday (February 15) morning, action gets underway with a short sprint stage in the eastern Swedish city on Thursday evening.
Two loops of three stages follow on Friday (February 16) before the day’s action concludes with a second pass through the 5.16km sprint stage in Umeå. A further seven stages are planned for Saturday (February 17) with two passes through the Vännäs, Sarsjöliden and Bygdsiljum specials followed by a single run through a new stage at Umeå.
Action concludes on Sunday (February 18) morning with two passes through the 25.50km Västervik stage and a second run through the 10.08km Umeå special that acts as the event’s Power Stage finale.
