That was when he was informed that he would get the chance to drive the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car in Rally Estonia, set to take place in a couple of weeks.
Also read: Bombshell news about Oliver Solberg – jumps into Toyota’s Rally1 car
Solberg had been waiting nearly three years for a return to top-level machinery. This year, his dream moved a step closer when he switched to Toyota’s Rally2 car, run by the central Finland-based Printsport team.
Last year, Sami Pajari competed with Printsport’s Toyota and, during the second half of the season, was given the chance to race in the main class with a Toyota Rally1 car. Now, a similar opportunity has opened up for Solberg.
On the Monday following the Acropolis Rally in Greece, Solberg finally received the call confirming that he and co-driver Elliott Edmondson would be competing in Estonia with top-tier equipment.
“My first reaction was: ‘Oh s***!’ And then I started to ask some questions, and of course I said yes,” Solberg recounted in an interview with DirtFish.
Solberg drove Hyundai’s Rally1 car in the 2022 season but was dropped from the team later that year. Since then, he’s been working to revive his career in the WRC2 category.
This year, Solberg has been in superb form with Toyota’s Rally2 car and leads the WRC2 standings as the season heads into its second half. Now, he finally gets a proper opportunity at the top level.
“Of course, it was always a dream or maybe like a plan, but I never knew really when (we would get this Rally1 chance). But of course I think the better you do and the strong, consistent results that I’ve been doing and even beating some WRC cars at some point and throughout some races this year, I think all that for sure helps to give me a chance,” said Solberg.
“It’s the biggest moment of my life, I think, 100%,” the 23-year-old Swede emphasised.
According to Solberg, every rally driver dreams of competing in the Toyota Rally1 car – the machine that has already taken six wins this season. Solberg will get one day of testing in the car before tackling Estonia’s fast gravel roads.
“I’ll just start the rally and see how it goes and get to the finish and be happy at the end of it and feel that I’ve done my best and have gotten into it as quickly as possible,” Solberg stated.
Rally Estonia, based around Tartu, gets underway on 17 July.
