This year’s first virtual race for the DiRT Rally 2.0 players will take place on the snowy stages of Sweden. Innovations of this year’s eChallenge are closer cooperation with ŠKODA Motorsport technicians and with the winners of real rallies. For this rally, the winner of Rally Sweden 2017 and the WRC 2 world champion Pontus Tidemand will share his experience with the players.
ŠKODA Motorsport eChallenge
- When does it take place? 9.-14.4. 2021
- On what platform? We will be racing in the DiRT Rally 2.0 on PC, Playstation and Xbox.
- How can I take part? After starting the game and creating profile, find the “ŠKODA ECHALLENGE” event and select ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo. You can do your run anytime during the event.
- Link to the event: https://dirtrally2.com/clubs/club/295041
Will Scandinavians have an advantage?
Driving on snow and ice has its specifics, especially in deep forests of Sweden. Fast sections, where you need courage and steady hands on the wheel, are interspersed with technical passages, where you need to get the right rhythm when throwing the car from one slide into another. The snow and ice are really challenging when it comes to car control. ŠKODA Motorsport eChallenge includes eight special stages, totalling 66.6 kilometres in length.
Pontus Tidemands adds a few tips for success in Sweden:
Is there any difference in grip level between studded and gravel tires?
When driving on frozen ice, studded tyres definitely provides a stunning grip compared to driving on a gravel surface. But on the other hand, when driving on loose snow, it's basically like driving on gravel with mud on top. And driving on snow or ice with gravel tyres... well, let's say that the grip level is zero!
Is it necessary to adapt the driving style on the snow and ice?
Of course you have to adjust your driving style to the surface that you're driving on. On snow and ice it's for example more important to brake a bit earlier when going into a corner and after that speed up quicker than you would if you were driving on gravel.
How important is the right line in the corners on the snow?
Without a doubt, it's very important to keep the front inside in the corners, in the clean lines to not make mistakes or lose time.
Are there any tricks to speed up in Sweden?
There are many little tricks to use that you learn with experience. But I would say that the most important trick, or tips rather, is to always remember that you can drive a lot faster than you think, even when the road is really narrow.
Is it better to use a snow barrier for stay on track or to go clean?
In fast corners it can be better to use a snow barrier to lean on to get around the corner in the fastest way possible, but in slow corners it's a lot better to stay clean to avoid getting stuck or make a mistake that ruins your rally completely.
Do you have any specialties in car setup for Sweden?
Most of the time you need softer springs and to go lower on the ride height. Another tip is that it's generally better to have less aggressive rear diff.
