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WRC favourites back for Sweden

The upcoming Rally Sweden [15 - 18 february] will mark the season debuts for three World Rally Car drivers - and the welcome return of a former champion.

Henning Solberg, Lorenzo Bertelli and Yazeed Al Rajhi all return to top flight competition in Ford Fiesta world rally cars, while 2003 drivers' champion Petter Solberg will take on the historic category in his Ford Escort RS1800.

Henning Solberg and Bertelli [pictured above] will pilot latest-spec cars, run by Mads Østberg's Adapta team and Bertelli's own FWRT squad respectively, while Al Rajhi will drive a 2016 model.

Petter Solberg will start alongside his wife Pernilla in the class he dominated in 2013 and 2015. This year however, the Norwegian is expecting a bigger challenge.

"Last time we beat a few Audi Quattros," Solberg said. "This year, there will be far more four-wheel drive cars in action. As such, we are now focusing on the opposition with two-wheel drive."

Another FIA champion on the Sweden entry list is 2017 WRX champion Johan Kristoffersson.

The 29-year-old Swede will swap his rallycross machine - a 570-hp Volkswagen Polo GTI Supercar - for a Skoda Fabia R5 for his second start at Rally Sweden. In 2016, he finished 11th in the WRC 2 class.

Zdroj: wrc.com