WRC Rally Sweden Odds: Rovanperä Returns for Lone Snow-Only Event

The World Rally Championship (WRC) did not disappoint in the first round of the 2024 championship. Thierry Neuville and Hyundai swept the top spot in all points categories to take a six-point lead in the WRC championship. Toyota took the lead in the team’s championship with Sébastien Ogier finishing second and Elfyn Evans in third. Now, the WRC heads north for the one full-snow event on the calendar with a return from the defending WRC champion. Here’s what to know about the WRC Rally Sweden odds.

WRC Rally Sweden Odds: Favorites to win in Sweden

• Kalle Rovanperä (-111)

The defending WRC champion is racing on a limited basis in 2024 with Toyota and Rally Sweden is his first event of the year. in 2022, Rovanperä dominated early on in the schedule, including a 22-second win in Sweden. Last year, he instead used consistency down the second half of the WRC season to win his second consecutive WRC title.

At 23 years old, Rovanperä is one of the best rally racers in the world. He’s a threat to win every race he enters even with time off. He already won this event in 2022 and finished fourth last season. He’s the favorite based on the last two seasons and will likely be near the front once again.

• Ott Tänak (+230)

Tänak quietly had his best result in Monte Carlo since his title-winning season in 2019. The Estonian driver managed fourth despite throttle issues early on and getting stuck in a snowbank on Friday morning. A WRC driver typically isn’t thrilled with a fourth-place result but it’s a good start in a new team.

He’s second-best in odds because of his track record in the snow. Tänak’s won three snow events in the last three seasons, including Rally Sweden last season. He’s a strong driver in the snowy conditions and can make major moves in the world rally championship standings ahead of the grueling Safari Rally in March.

WRC Rally Sweden Odds: Longer odds in Sweden

• Elfyn Evans (+650)

Evans had a mixed showing in Monte Carlo en route to a third-place finish. He’s admitted not feeling fully comfortable with the car yet and is already predicting he’ll be behind teammate Rovanperä in Sweden. He won this event in 2020 but the conditions were hardly snowy.

Since then, he’s finished fifth in 2021, retired in 2022, and finished fifth last year. A win is a big ask and would be a massive surprise. He’s already stated he aims to keep ahead of the Hyundai duo of Tänak and Neuville.

• Esapekka Lappi (+650)

Lappi makes his season debut this week in Sweden where he’s had some success in the past. He managed third in 2022 and second in 2019 with Toyota and Citroën, respectively. He finished 2023 on a low note with three retirements in the final five WRC races.

His lone win in the WRC came on gravel in the 2017 Rally Finland. He’s typically raced best on gravel since then. Like Evans, a win would be a massive surprise.

• Thierry Neuville (+750)

It’s a bit surprising to see the championship leader so far down the odds. Neuville composed one of his best performances over a full weekend in Monte Carlo. He said after the win he felt in “perfect harmony” with the car for his second career Monte Carlo victory.

It’s his track record in the snow that’s putting him so far down the rally odds. Outside of the season-opening win, Neuville’s won just two partial- or full-snow events: Monte Carlo in 2020 and Rally Sweden in 2018. He’ll need more perfect harmony for a win, especially considering Rovanperä’s return and Tänak’s pace in the snow.

Neuville will arguably have his best chance at a win in Sweden in years, but he may have to wait until later in the WRC timetable to stand on the podium’s top step.

WRC Rally Sweden Odds: Winner and podium predictions

Rovanperä’s return with the new points system brings excitement to this weekend’s WRC event. The two-time defending WRC champion has the track record and talent to continue where he left off last season.

But the new points system could make it tougher to return with so much ease. Instead, we like Tänak to get his first win of 2024. He’ll be joined on the podium by Rovanperä (-400 for a top-three finish) and Neuville (-111).

For WRC betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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