After the Japan WRC Rally, it was announced that Solberg will move on to contest a full season next year in Toyota’s Rally1 car. He will step in as the replacement for Kalle Rovanperä, as the Finnish driver switches to the Japanese Super Formula series for next season.
Solberg has, so to speak, already played through the WRC2 category, and he no longer has anything to prove in the smaller classes.
Last summer, Solberg was given a superb opportunity to demonstrate his abilities at the top level as well, when Toyota promoted him to a Rally1 car for Rally Estonia. Solberg made perfect use of the opportunity and drove in irresistible fashion to victory.
Solberg is well aware of just how unique an opportunity he will be given next year.
“There are only ten seats in the Rally1 category, in the biggest class. When you get that opportunity – especially when you’ve been waiting for it for a long time – you know that you can be the best,” Solberg says in the documentary.
“When you finally manage to open that one little window, you have to give absolutely everything. You only have one chance and that’s it,” Solberg continued.
Solberg feels that his time has now come.
“I’ve ticked all the possible boxes already, and now all that’s missing is a seat in the top class with a Rally1 car,” he says.
You can watch the entire seventh episode of the second season of More than Machine below.
