Why returning to the WRC podium was so important for Oliver Solberg
A return to the World Rally Championship podium for the first time since January was a relief after a mentally challenging Rally Portugal, according to Oliver Solberg. Finishing second in Portugal last weekend was a much-needed result for the Toyota driver’s title aspirations after suffering a mechanical issue in Kenya and costly crashes in Croatia […]
Oliver Solberg stunningly jumps to first in the rain
Oliver Solberg snatched the lead at Rally Portugal after delivering a stunning time in wet conditions on the final stage of the morning loop, to climb from fourth to first. Solberg faced an 18.6s margin to rally leader Sebastien Ogier heading into stage 14, which was hit by rain. The Toyota driver produced an incredible […]
Oliver Solberg grabs Rally Portugal lead as Hyundai shows early speed
Toyota’s Oliver Solberg moved into an early lead at Rally Portugal at the end of the opening leg of the first pure gravel event of the World Rally Championship season. Solberg navigated through two traditional rough gravel stages and an asphalt super special with a 3.4s margin over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux. Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier recovered […]
Oliver Solberg explains crash that ended WRC Canary Islands fight with Sebastien Ogier
Oliver Solberg says he wasn’t «overpushing» and just needs to «improve small details» moving forward after a penultimate stage mistake ended a titanic battle for victory with Sébastien Ogier in the Canary Islands. Solberg and nine-time world rally champion Ogier were locked in a dramatic duel for victory on the Spanish island which looked set […]
Oliver Solberg closes on Sebastien Ogier as rain hits
Oliver Solberg reduced Sebastien Ogier’s Rally Islas Canarias lead to 5.3s as rain threatened to shake up the order on Saturday morning. Nine-time world champion Ogier kicked off the loop with an 8.9s lead but faced a strong challenge from his chasing Toyota team-mates Solberg and Elfyn Evans. Evans, sitting in fourth overall, claimed the opening […]
Oliver Solberg crashes out on opening stage
Oliver Solberg retired from Friday’s action at the Croatia Rally after being caught out on the opening stage of the asphalt World Rally Championship event. The Monte Carlo winner clipped a bank 4.8km into the Vodice — Brest 1 (14.2km) test, which fired the car into a wild 360-degree spin. The Swede’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 […]
Why Safari Rally Kenya will be more of a lottery than ever
«I believe it is the same lottery as you have in Europe, you buy a ticket and you hope for the best. It is going to be a bit like that. It is going to be very wild this year.” That is how Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi described what awaits the World Rally Championship crews this […]
Elfyn Evans leads as Oliver Solberg drops to P5 after lucky escape
Elfyn Evans claimed the Rally Sweden lead to head a Toyota 1-2-3 as overnight frontrunner Oliver Solberg dropped to fifth following a dramatic Friday morning. After three snow stages, Evans headed to the midday service with a 14.5s lead over Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, with team-mate Sami Pajari in third [+23.3s]. The top five was completed […]
Oliver Solberg “didn’t deserve more than P4” from Sweden WRC round
Oliver Solberg says he didn’t deserve more than fourth from the WRC’s Rally Sweden, after admitting he was surprised by how difficult it was to open the road. Solberg headed to Sweden on a high after scoring a sensational win in Monte Carlo last month, which had raised expectations ahead of a home event he […]