A familiar name lands a top role in rally world – “We can do something exciting for the future”

Pernilla Solberg has been appointed to a top position in the rally world.
Oliver Solberg
Oliver Solberg. Photo by: Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
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When it comes to rally, it’s impossible not to encounter the Solberg name. Now, the famous rally family has gained more influence within the sport.

Pernilla Solberg was appointed as the head of the FIA’s World Rally Championship Commission a couple of weeks ago. Her official title is president.

The Solberg name became familiar to all who follow the sport, especially in the early 2000s, when Petter Solberg, alongside his co-driver Phil Mills, won the world championship in 2003.

Now, his wife Pernilla is in charge of developing the future of the World Rally Championship. Their son, Oliver Solberg, one of the sport’s great future promises, will benefit from these future developments.

“I wanted to be involved in motorsport more, but it would need to be in rallying, You have no idea if you will be the candidate they choose and then I was told I would be the president of the commission and I was like ‘wow’. It is super exciting,” Solberg told Motorsport.com.

“I feel everybody in the service park, they want things to change whether it is something on an event or for the future, and I feel like I would really like to work on those things. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity and have a deeper purpose. It is really something I look forward to. It is exciting times, and a lot of things are happening,” Pernilla Solberg continued.

The Rally Commission is meant to address the great challenge associated with developing the World Championship series. The biggest problem with the WRC has been the spiraling costs. FIA has already introduced a major change package aimed at reducing costs, thereby attracting more manufacturers to the series. This, in turn, would increase competition and, in the best-case scenario, create opportunities for more new drivers.

The FIA will start implementing changes from next year onwards. It aims to get rid of the current hybrid units and is doing everything possible to reduce costs in other ways. The hope is that more private teams like M-Sport will join.

“It is difficult at the moment, but we have to really believe that we can all do something great for the future. It is a great sport, and we need to take care of it,”  Solberg instilled hope.

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