COLIN’S CREST IS BACK FOR SWEDEN’S ALL-NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RALLY
Colin’s Crest is set to be used once more following confirmation that the Vargasen stage will be included on the route of the European championship-counting Royal Rally of Scandinavia in July.
Vargasen – and the Colin’s Crest jump in particular – was a highlight of Rally Sweden when the event was based in the Varmland region of the country. But it hasn’t been used since 2019 due to various cancellations and the event moving north to Umea for 2022.
Given its name as a tribute to the late Colin McRae, the Colin’s Crest section traditionally attracted thousands of spectators, while marker posts were added to measure how far cars jumped.
McRae’s nephew Max McRae is set to contest what will count as round three of the Junior ERC Championship from July 6-8.
Glenn Olsson, who used to run Rally Sweden but is now heading up the new Royal Rally of Scandinavia, said: “The event is going to be based in Karlstad and we are planning to do the Powerstage on Colin’s Crest. The rally will be 50% festival and 50% rally. We’re going to try to attract the traditional fan base around Varmland. We have a really good feeling the drivers are going to want to come and we’re really looking forward to this.
“We have been struggling with the [right] winter [conditions] for many years [for Rally Sweden in Varmland] and we always said we’re longing to do an event in the summertime and now we can.”
Karlstad, located three hours by car west of Stockholm, was Rally Sweden’s long-term home. It will host the Royal Rally of Scandinavia service park.
Simon Larkin, part of the ERC promoter team, said: “We’ve found a fantastic new home in Umea for the WRC but Varmland was a fantastic [WRC] host for many years and it’s great we can keep the knowledge, experience and the fanbase in Varmland for the ERC.”