WRC: Protest moves Sweden shakedown

Rally Sweden will feature a new shakedown stage after protestors stood in the way of the original road on the outskirts of host city Karlstad.

Local residents close to the planned shakedown stage were unhappy with the location and forced the organizers of next weekend's second round of the 2016 World Rally Championship to look elsewhere. Swedish officials have now confirmed a new 2.72-mile test.

"We have had many positive calls suggesting new stages after the problems we had with our initial choice," Rally Sweden CEO Glen Olsson said. "We are very pleased that this is now settled and we can focus on making a great event."

Having dealt with that issue, the event officials' focus turned to contingency plans for the weather conditions. Karlstad's superspecial was largely snow-free earlier this week, but rally officials were counting on a forecast big freeze this weekend to ensure the stages were hard enough when the recce begins.

The shakedown's move to Karlstad from its previous location much further north in Hagfors is among the route changes for 2016. The crews will come back to Karlstad for overnight halts, meaning they start each day with a long road section north.

Friday's opening day of competition takes the event across the border for its usual day in Norway before a weekend of competition in the Varmland woods.

Originally on Autosport.com