Dani Sordo made a superb start to Rally Sweden on Thursday evening. On the opening stage, Dani set the fastest time in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC to claim the overall lead going into the second day in Sweden. However, a stop on the eighth stage on Friday afternoon saw team-mate Patrik Sandell overtake him.

Thus Patrik forced his way into the top ten ahead of the weekend portion of rally Sweden, in the process becoming the MINI brand’s top representative in a field of 50 starters. Armindo Araujo of WRC Team MINI Portugal is 14^th  overall after a solid start, although all teams had a tough time on the snow- and ice-covered stages.

Even the world champion had to fight. On the seventh stage Sébastien Loeb hit a snow bank, losing almost two minutes while spectators pushed him back on track. Paulo Nobre, WRC Team MINI Portugal’s second starter, and Richard Göransson, also driving a MINI WRC, made their acquaintances with the unforgiving snow. Both drivers withdrew from the rally, but will be permitted to retake the start on Saturday.

Meanwhile Jari-Matti Latvala, Mikko Hirvonen, Petter Solberg und Mads Ostberg are battling for the best position at the top of the overall standings. But a total of 13 stages lie still ahead of the teams on Saturday and Sunday before the final test, the so-called Power Stage, in Hagfors on Sunday afternoon. Rally fans face a thrilling rally, as overall positions on the special stages can change completely by the minute. The conditions on the Rally Sweden are considered to be amongst the toughest on the entire WRC calendar.

During the course of Rally Sweden, updates and breaking news about the MINI WRC Team is available on Twitter.com/MINImotorsport.