In 2024, after years of seemingly turning a blind eye, Nintendo brought the DMCA takedown hammer hard on Switch emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx. Despite the significant blow, however, it was far from the end of the Nintendo Switch emulator scene. Ryujinx and Yuzu forks are still available, and brand new emulators like Eden and Citron, just to name two, have emerged over time. Nintendo's latest big release, Metroid Prime 4, was immediately playable on those Switch emulators. On Friday, though, the Switch emulator scene suffered another scare as Nintendo sent a new DMCA takedown notice targeting the GitHub pages […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/nintendo-once-again-brings-dmca-hammer-down-switch-emulators/

For the second World Rally Championship event in a row, Hyundai has struggled for outright pace in its battle against Toyota.

admitted he was running out of set up options to try as Hyundai explored radical changes to find answers to its lack of grip and speed at Rally Sweden.

The Korean marque had hoped to take the fight to Toyota in Sweden after a difficult season opener on asphalt in Monte Carlo, difficulties the team had been anticipating last month. This is different.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Now in Sweden, after 15 snowy stages, Toyota has again dominated with Elfyn Evans heading a 1-2-3-4 for the Japanese brand while Hyundai has struggled to extract pace out of its i20 N Rally1 car. All three of its drivers have reported a lack of traction on the snow and ice covered roads.

Heading into the final day, Esapekka Lappi is the best placed Hyundai in fourth, 1m09.5s from the lead with Adrien Fourmaux 8.2s further back, Thierry Neuville ended Saturday 2m10.0s shy, although the 2024 world champion lost a significant chunk of that deficit to a mistake in Friday’s stage three that required him to stop to clear his windscreen.

Radical setup changes

Esapekka Lappi, Enni Malkonen, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

In order to find answers to its lack of pace, drivers have rolled through a myriad of unusual set up changes through Saturday’s stages that resulted in improvements across its cars.

Neuville ended the day by winning stage 15 by 1.1s from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta before opening up on the extent of Hyundai’s search to unlock speed from its cars.

“I have [gone radical with the changes],” said Neuville when asked if he had tried some radical set up changes. 

“I was driving this afternoon partially without the rear roll bar and we tried without the front [roll bar]. I tried a lot of rake, less rake and different preloads. I did a lot. It was always tight to get to the start of the stage [on time] each time.”

When asked if he was running out of changes to try, he added: “Yeah definitely. I had a bit of pressure today as I promised my wife to make one fastest time, as I forgot the flowers [for Valentine’s Day]. She told me I needed to set a fastest time, I was trying.

Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Likewise, team-mate Adrien Fourmaux tried an experimental damper set up change that made the ride pretty hard going for him and co-driver Alex Coria inside the car. The change did yield more grip that has left the Frenchman with hope ahead of Sunday’s final three stages.

“I found this morning that something was not working on the dampers, so I decided and the team decided to compensate it with the spring and really open up the dampers, and it seems it was working much better this afternoon,” said Fourmaux.

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

“It is quite positive and encouraging for tomorrow, still it is going to be hard to fight against the Toyotas, but at least we are showing some pace with the three cars this afternoon,” said Fourmaux.

“It gave a lot more grip to the car but the car became more lazy. At the same time I lost some protection, but I just tightened my teeth and I went for it. It is a shame we have not found it earlier and we tried many things on the car like differential, springs and geometries and ride height and nothing was improving anything. It is the only big step that I found today. 

“I think we can sort it for the rest of the season. I hope tomorrow it will be ok and we can fight for it.”

WRC Sweden: Elfyn Evans heads Toyota 1-2-3-4 into final day

WRC Sweden: Takamoto Katsuta snatches lead from Elfyn Evans

Thierry Neuville labels WRC struggles the “hardest time of my career”

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Elfyn Evans headed into the final day of Rally Sweden with a slender 13.3s lead despite a late push from Takamoto Katsuta, as Toyota’s domination continued.

Evans started Saturday facing a 2.8s deficit to Katsuta, but this was turned on its head after the morning loop. A perplexed Katsuta struggled for grip, which left him 16.1s adrift.

The deficit grew to 18s early in the afternoon as Evans maintained his strong pace, headlined by a fastest time in stage 13. But Katsuta managed to arrest his slide backwards and issued a response as the afternoon progressed. The Japanese driver took time out of Evans across the final two stages to reduce the gap to 13.3s.

"This morning was pretty good but this afternoon was a bit more mixed. Looking after the tyres was a bit more difficult, and not my specialty, but it has still been a clean afternoon,” said Evans, who defeated Katsuta to win Rally Sweden last year.

Katsuta has not given up on an opportunity to beat Evans and snatch a maiden WRC win on Sunday.  “One more day to go. Not really happy today and we will find out what went wrong. I will definitely try my best tomorrow,” said Katsuta. 

Katsuta also came under pressure from Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari, who set an impressive pace across the afternoon. The Finn, sitting in third, picked up fastest times in stages 12 and 14 to close within 11.4s of Katsuta, before ending the day 12.1s behind his team-mate.

Toyota’s domination of the event was outlined by Oliver Solberg leaping ahead of Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux and Esapekka Lappi to claim fourth in the morning. The Monte Carlo winner’s charge was halted in the afternoon.    

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

"It has been a tricky afternoon that is for sure,” said Solberg, who ended the day in fourth, 33s behind Pajari and 11.2s ahead of Lappi. “Not good. It was so slippery and there was a lot of loose snow and it was difficult to find the rhythm and the confidence. That is it really. It is not where I want to be.”

Hyundai’s crews conducted multiple set-up changes across its trio of i20 N Rally1 cars in a bid to find answers to its lack of pace. To some degree the changes worked as Lappi began to feel more at home behind the wheel to remain in the fight for fourth overall.

Fourmaux tried a radical damper change which wasn’t comfortable for the crew inside the car, but it did deliver some encouraging results. The Frenchman held onto fifth, 8.2s behind Lappi. Thierry Neuville ended the day by winning the final Umea Sprint stage by 1.1s from Katsuta, but the 2024 world champion remained mired in seventh, 2m10s adrift of the lead.           

"We had a good day in the car honestly,” said Neuville. “Strong pace for the speed we have at the moment. I enjoyed it a bit more. The conditions were more stable than yesterday, so it made it a bit easier. The car is following the line a bit better. That is all we have at the moment, but at least we had a bit of fun.”

M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong delivered head turning pace in the afternoon stages after making a roll bar tweak to his Puma's set-up at the midday service. The Irishman was comfortably quicker than his team-mates, ending the day in eighth overall, ahead of Josh McErlean, who was hampered by an intermittent light pod failure that he described as “quite scary”.

Martins Sesks completed the day’s seven stages on his return to action after three punctures on Friday forced him into retirement. The Latvian claimed the fastest time on stage 10, but was hampered by being first on the road in the afternoon. Sesks ended the final stage with a water pressure alarm being triggered on his Puma. 

The top 10 was completed by WRC2 leader Roope Korhonen. Three stages await the crews on Sunday to conclude the second round of the season.

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A new era of cross-border travel begins between Norway and Sweden with the launch of Snälltåget’s commercial open access rail service. Starting from 15th June 2026, this direct daytime rail service will connect Oslo in Norway with Gothenburg and Malmö in Sweden, offering more travel choices and improving connectivity between the two nations. This groundbreaking service will be operated by Snälltåget, an independent rail operator, providing an alternative to the public-funded, state-run services typically found across Europe.

This new service represents a bold move in the Nordic region’s transportation landscape. The launch of this cross-border rail connection is a clear step toward increasing travel efficiency while reducing the financial burden on taxpayers. Unlike the traditional services offered by Norwegian state-owned operator Vy, which relies on taxpayer funding, the new Snälltåget service operates commercially on an open-access basis, making it more competitive and affordable for travelers.

The announcement has been met with praise from ALLRAIL, the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants, which strongly supports independent operators in providing affordable and efficient travel options. Eoin Rollins, a representative of ALLRAIL, commended Snälltåget’s move, calling it a “great initiative” that demonstrates how independent rail operators can bring lower fares and more travel options for passengers without the need for state subsidies.

The Launch of the New Service

The new Oslo-Gothenburg-Malmö daytime service is expected to become a popular alternative for travelers, offering a comfortable and scenic journey between Norway and Sweden. The route is scheduled to operate on a daily basis, with easy access to key cities across both countries. This expansion of independent cross-border rail operations not only strengthens the ties between Norway and Sweden but also enhances the overall travel experience for passengers looking for a seamless and sustainable mode of transport.

The service will operate without the support of public funds, showcasing the efficiency of market-driven competition in the rail sector. Snälltåget has long been a proponent of increasing accessibility and choice for European travelers, and with this move, they are paving the way for more flexible and affordable travel options within the Nordic region.

Increased Capacity and More Travel Options for the Region

With the addition of the Oslo-Gothenburg-Malmö route, cross-border rail services in the Nordic region are now more varied than ever before. The new service will provide more capacity for travelers, complementing the already well-established connections between Norway and Sweden. Passengers will now have the opportunity to explore both countries with greater ease, thanks to the increased availability of cross-border routes that bypass traditional flight options.

As Snälltåget is the first independent operator to provide this service between Norway and Sweden, the company is setting a benchmark for future cross-border rail initiatives in Europe. By offering more flexible, commercial services, Snälltåget is playing a pivotal role in the ongoing evolution of European rail travel.

The future of cross-border travel in Europe looks promising, with independent operators like Snälltåget pushing for more competitive and passenger-focused solutions. The new Oslo-Gothenburg-Malmö service is set to be a game-changer for travel in the Nordic region, providing faster, greener, and more affordable options for those looking to explore both countries.

The Growing Importance of Sustainable Travel in Europe

This new rail service is also a step forward in the push for sustainable travel options across Europe. With a growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and promoting greener modes of transport, rail travel is increasingly seen as a viable and eco-friendly alternative to flights. By encouraging travelers to choose trains over planes, Snälltåget is playing a crucial role in supporting Europe’s sustainability goals.

As part of the wider trend toward environmentally conscious travel, this cross-border service also supports the broader European initiative to enhance rail infrastructure, increase connectivity, and make sustainable travel more accessible. This move reflects growing recognition of the need to provide more efficient and environmentally responsible travel options that help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Looking to the Future

With the launch of this new service, Norway and Sweden are setting the stage for a new era of cross-border connectivity that is both efficient and eco-friendly. The new rail link opens the door to more travel options, strengthens regional ties, and offers passengers greater choice at affordable prices.

As Snälltåget continues to expand its footprint in Europe, this new route marks only the beginning of what could be a wider shift toward independent rail operations, offering affordable, flexible, and sustainable travel across the continent. The Oslo-Gothenburg-Malmö route will not only benefit travelers but also serve as an important model for how independent rail companies can thrive in a competitive European market.

Thierry Neuville described his current World Rally Championship struggles as the ‘hardest time of his career so far’ following a difficult morning at Rally Sweden.

The 2024 champion has been struggling for confidence behind the wheel of his Hyundai i20 N Rally 1 this season, with his struggles from last month’s opening round in Monte Carlo continuing in Sweden.

Even after topping Thursday’s shakedown, the Belgian again repeated that he felt "something is missing to be confident”, and on Friday he went as far as saying that this current period is the hardest of his career to date.

Neuville ended the morning loop of stages sitting seventh overall, 1m37.4s behind rally leader Toyota’s Elfyn Evans. Neuville’s struggles with the balance of his car were compounded by a run into a snowbank in stage three that cost him more than a minute.

“Generally, it was ok but I’m really fighting the balance,” said Neuville at the end of stage four.

“It is not a surprise to be honest it is disturbing a lot, and it makes it very challenging. We are losing a bit of time now, but the rally is still long so we will keep working and we will see.”

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

When asked about the direction the team can take with the car in the midday service, he added: “It is tough. Honestly, it is the hardest time of my career so far. We have changed so many things so you could say we are a bit lost as well, which doesn’t help.”

Speaking in the media zone about his current situation, Neuville elaborated further, adding: “I wouldn’t say that I’m very happy to be honest. We will do some changes for this afternoon, but it is pretty hard to know where to go and what to do, but if we don’t try, we will not learn anything. I guess we have to do some changes to see what it brings.”

Neuville’s Hyundai team-mates Adrien Fourmaux and Esapekka Lappi also struggled to find the pace to compete with Toyota. Fourmaux was forced to make an extreme set up change after stage two to try and find a solution.

“I was struggling a little bit with understeer on the first corners [in stage two] but I did not expect that big a gap I would say,” he said. “I decided to go quite extreme on the set up to make the car work better.

“It is a bit more difficult to drive but at the end it seems to be faster. It is not the pace I would like to be but it is an improvement, so maybe we can fight for something from there.”

WRC Sweden: Elfyn Evans leads as Oliver Solberg drops to P5 after lucky escape

WRC Sweden: Oliver Solberg sets the pace to grab early lead

Low snowfall throws up extra curveball for WRC crews at Rally Sweden

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