To be precise, Solberg isn’t officially a Toyota factory driver, as he represents the Finnish team Printsport.
The arrangement is similar to Sami Pajari’s last season. Pajari won the WRC2 title driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for Printsport and also had the chance to contest a few WRC rounds in a Toyota Rally1 car. This year, Pajari is part of Toyota’s official WRC team.
Solberg kicked off his season at Rally Monte-Carlo, where he wasn’t competing for WRC2 points. Despite an early mistake, he was the fastest Rally2 driver for most of the event.
Solberg says he’s settled well into his new environment.
“The new team has been great. Eero(team principal Räikkönen) and Printsport have a lot of passion, and they are like my family. We have a lot of passion for the sport and just love motorsport, basically. So it’s great to work with such people,” Solberg told RallyJournal.com.
Solberg already has experience in the WRC’s top class. In 2022, he drove a Hyundai Rally1 car but was released from the team at the end of the season.
Over the past couple of years, Solberg has showcased his talent in the WRC2 category. At just 23 years old, he still has plenty of time to climb back to the top of the sport.
“Of course, this is also fantastic. But the dream is definitely to be in Rally1,” Solberg admitted.
The big question is whether Solberg could get an opportunity to showcase his skills in a Toyota Rally1 car as early as this season. He now has a strong connection with Toyota, which has effectively earmarked him as a promising young talent.
“I don’t know if it could happen this season. But at least I’m with the team now and part of the family, so we can start working towards the future,” Solberg reflected.
“My dream for the future is to be part of the team. So let’s see what’s possible.”
Next, Solberg will compete in his home event, Rally Sweden, where he will be fighting for WRC2 points. He’s considered the top favourite for the winter rally.
“I’m going to test in Finland before the rally. Then we should be able to drive with the new tyres, work a little bit more on the car, and hopefully have a good feeling for Sweden. It’s my favourite rally of the year, so the expectations are high.”
Rally Sweden takes place next week, from 13–16 February.
