Calle Carlberg Wins FIA Junior WRC Debut at Rally Sweden with Dominant Home Victory

Umeå, Sweden, February 16, 2025: Calle Carlberg completed a sensational debut in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship, storming to victory at Rally Sweden with a commanding performance on home snow.

The 25-year-old Swede, who earned a funded Junior WRC campaign after clinching the 2025 FIA Junior ERC title, controlled the rally from the outset and returned to Umeå with a massive 1min 52.5sec advantage over Finland’s Leevi Lassila. Carlberg won 12 of 17 stages, underlining his dominance on the snow-covered roads.

Carlberg Controls Rally Sweden from Start to Finish

Starting the final leg with a comfortable 1min 19.5sec lead, Carlberg adopted a measured approach but continued to show strong pace. After losing SS16 Västervik 1 to Ali Türkkan, he immediately responded by topping the timesheets on the second pass and sealed victory by winning the decisive Wolf Power Stage.

“It’s crazy. I could never have imagined this,” Carlberg said. “To make my WRC debut at home was magical, and to win it is even better.”

Lassila and Hernández Secure Podium Positions

Lassila was unable to challenge for victory once Carlberg extended his advantage on Friday but delivered a composed drive to secure strong championship points on the season opener.

“I was hoping for a little bit more, but on Friday I was struggling with the car,” Lassila admitted. “I am looking forward to doing the whole championship and competing against Calle and the others.”

Spain’s Raúl Hernández completed the podium, finishing 2min 09.8sec behind Lassila after a steady performance on unfamiliar snow stages.

Teenager Gil Membrado fought back from early setbacks to claim fourth place, while late drama struck on SS17 when Craig Rahill crashed while running fifth. That incident promoted Türkkan into the top five, with Kerem Kazaz rounding out the finishers in sixth.

Final Standings – Rally Sweden (FIA Junior WRC)

1. Calle Carlberg – 2:54:58.1
2. Leevi Lassila – +1:52.5
3. Raúl Hernández – +4:02.3
4. Gil Membrado – +12:07.7
5. Ali Türkkan – +40:29.7
6. Kerem Kazaz – +42:01.5

Rally Sweden Stage Winners

Carlberg’s dominance was reflected in the stage results, claiming victories on key tests including Andersvattnet, Bäck, Vännäs, Sarsjöliden, Kolksele, Västervik 2 and the final Umeå stage. Türkkan and Lassila also took stage wins across the snow-bound event.

Junior WRC Heads to Croatia Rally

The FIA Junior WRC now switches from snow to asphalt for round two at Croatia Rally, scheduled from 9–12 April, where Carlberg will look to extend his championship lead.