For 2024, Solberg switched to a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car and joined the Finnish outfit Printsport. This move also gave him a strong link to Toyota’s top-level WRC team.
Last weekend, Solberg delivered a dominant performance to win the Acropolis Rally in Greece, a result that propelled him to the top of the WRC2 standings.
In recent weeks, speculation has grown that Solberg might be given a shot in a Toyota Rally1 car at Rally Finland, which begins at the end of July. Toyota could easily facilitate such a showcase, since the team’s headquarters is based in Jyväskylä – right at the heart of the Finnish rally.
Last year, Sami Pajari was in a similar position. After showing strong form in a Printsport-run Toyota Rally2 car, he got his first chance in a Rally1 machine at Rally Finland. That performance helped land him a full-time Rally1 seat with Toyota for the 2024 season.
However, Solberg firmly dismissed the rumours of a Rally1 outing in Finland when asked about it by RallyJournal.com.
“No, I don’t think so. But again, it’s you guys (journalists) who make these rumours, not me. So I don’t know,” Solberg replied coolly.
He did admit, however, that his long-term goal is to return to Rally1 – but not at any cost.
“If I get proper preparation and feel that I can be prepared to give it a good chance – then yes. If not, I’d rather wait,” Solberg stated.
“I think if you look at Pajari’s chance last year, he got a lot of test days. If I don’t get good preparation, as I said, I don’t want to risk one race of my career. I’d rather wait to be properly prepared if something happens in the future.”
The official entry list for Rally Finland will be published on Friday. Toyota will have five Rally1 cars in the event, as the team confirmed on Wednesday that part-time driver Sébastien Ogier will take part. The team’s other drivers are Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sami Pajari.
