Oliver Solberg is one of the most talked-about names this year — and rightfully so, thanks to the outstanding season he delivered both in WRC and WRC2. He accepted our invitation and answered all of our questions.
SS: Ηow does it feel winning your first WRC event?
OS: It has been a while now, but I mean it is a dream come true. It was the craziest rally of my life and also the coolest thing I have done in my life. It is an incredible achievement and something I have always dreamed of.
SS: I have to admit it that I could not have expected it. My hands were shaking, I could not write in that time, because I was thinking that you did one day testing, you stepped in and you won.
OS: That was the crazy part. It felt so good already straight away in the testing and it felt very comfortable, so I might do a top five or something. I may win one stage or two stages. Trying to do a clean rally, I won the first stage and I thought: “Okay, not bad”. Then, I just thought keep driving just the same and it was enough to do it and to be faster in the rally because it was an incredible feeling, but yeah… I might not expect it, also, to be that competitive straight away.
SS: You are the WRC2 Champion of 2025. I have a difficult question now. If you have to pick between your first WRC win and your first WRC2 title, what would you choose and why?
OS: It is a difficult question, but for different reasons. Of course, different emotions. I think the WRC2 title was more a relief because it was something I expected it and something I already planned it last year, so it was more relief that something I should do. But I think more emotional and closer to my heart, it was probably the WRC to win, because I think that is the more special, it was a dream you know. It was something that I did not already expect it and something I have been working towards my whole life. So, I think probably that it was the most emotional one.
SS: After your success in Estonia, you were back in a Rally2 car, but I suspect that you want another Rally1 drive. Is it possible to see you in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 again this year?
OS: This year? I am not so sure. I hope, of course. You will never know, but as it looks now I don’t think it is possible. But you will never know.
SS: What is the difference between driving a Rally1 car and a Rally2 car?
OS: Aw, I think the main difference is the aerodynamics, especially on a high-speed rally. It has been a great difference in the grip, in the cornering that you have. I think when it is a very technical rally, it is no big difference. Sometimes I can be as quick in a Rally2 car as in a Rally1 car, like in Greece or something. It is very technical [referring to the type of rallies], but I think the aerodynamics is the biggest difference, especially when it is very, very fast. Big, big difference in grip.
SS: And how about Fabia and Yaris? I mean Fabia has four cylinders whereas Yaris has three cylinders. Does the fact that these cars are different in terms of engine require any changes in the driving style?
OS: No, not so much, I was expecting it at the beginning, but the driving keeps the same. For sure, the behavior is very different. Very different type of engine, so, for sure, I think your driving style with the car does not change so much, but I think your driving style with the engine changes a little bit, of course. How you use the engine and so on, but the driving style with the car is not so much different.
SS: After your first attempt at the top level, what do you believe it went wrong? Was the car, the team, the timing?
OS: Ah, I think many things. I said it before just wrong place in the wrong timing. I believe I may not fit in the team in that point, in that time. But, okay, there were some okay results. But there were some difficult results as well. I think the situation was not ready for me and for them. I think it was difficult situation in that time. Wrong time, wrong place.
SS: Now, I think you are readier. I had the chance to speak to Pierre-Louis who drove an i20N for 2C Competition and I remember that you drove for them as well. He said to me that he drove an old-spec car compared to the factory drivers. Do you remember to tell us what was the difference between these two cars?
OS: I think the base of the car was very similar. I think they were some specifications, maybe suspension, maybe engine, maybe some different things. The differences were not too big.
SS: If you had to go back in the time, would you have said yes to Hyundai’s offer for a part-time programme?
OS: [He was thinking…]. I mean if the situation was the same with the same people that were in the beginning and I spoke to. If it stays like that, so I would still probably have said yes. But, then, of course, many things happening in the long way and maybe after I would have said no. It is difficult, difficult to know, haha.
SS: A number of people believed that you earned your first Rally1 campaign due to your name. Do you feel anxious that you have to prove something? What role does Petter have in your career?
OS: For sure. The pressure is on me, maybe with my name. It is bigger than many people. I think that I need to prove a lot of things, it is always harder to prove yourself, to have a name that you have, to show something extra, to show more than you deserve. I think, for sure, it is not easy, but I look the positives having my name and having a father. Very lucky to have a father like I have, it means so much in my career, to know everything I know today. It is thanks to him and to my mother, Pernilla, of course to know what I know and where I am today. For sure, the world is smallest, the world has a small and a tough role. It is not easy always, so you just have to deal with it.
SS: For me, I think that you answered to them by winning your first WRC event and your first WRC2 title. But what is next for Oliver? Are you in discussions with a WRC team for 2026?
OS: I mean, of course, we have discussions. The dream and the goal, as everybody knows, are to be part of the full season in WRC and to have a chance to learn more rallies and also to do some great results. So, I think the goal is very clear, but then we have to see where we fit in for a full programme. Let’s see.
SS: I think there are small chances.
SS: I hope, I hope. Definitely, I think it is possible, but still nothing ready. I really hope so.
SS: I asked Kalle three years ago about you and I will make a similar question to you. Are you looking forward to fighting with Kalle since both of you are considered as the future of WRC?
OS: Kalle is already the future. We are in very different levels of career, but I always looked up to Kalle, because he achieved something fantastic and had great opportunities to achieve something amazing. I hope as well with the right opportunity to be able to also do something fantastic. I think it will be cool to fight against each other. We have done it in a few rallies and had some good fights, so for sure it will be very nice.
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