From press releaseThe World Rally Championship (WRC) is preparing for next week's Rally Sweden.The second round of the FIA World Rally Championship is one of the fastest and most spectacular events on the calendar and is set in the snowy forests of Sweden and Norway. Beautiful scenery abounds, but competing in sub-zero temperatures requires specific preparation for both man and machinery.The cars, in particular, are equipped with special tyres that feature tungsten-tipped steel studs which provide amazing grip as they bite through the frozen road surface.For the crews, many can be seen wearing heated racing boots and anti-glare glasses, which provide greater definition of the snow covered landscape.Approximately one-third of this year’s route is different to 2014 and of the 11 individual stages four are either new or modified.The event kicks off with the familiar super special stage in Karlstad on Thursday evening and Friday takes in all the modified stages, most of which are in neighbouring Norway.Crews will be back on familiar ground on Saturday with classic stages for the longest day of the event, while Sunday takes in just two different stages, the second run through Värmullsåsen closing the rally as the Power Stage.