How the WRC service park reacted to Solberg’s maiden win

Oliver Solberg has “positively confirmed” he is able to make the step as much as the World Rally Championship’s prime flight after his Rally Estonia win, based on 2019 world champion Ott Tanak.

Solberg’s sensational run to a maiden WRC Rally1 victory in Estonia has triggered shockwaves on the planet of rallying, with the achievement arriving on his debut driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 automotive – his first top-flight begin since 2022.

Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson delivered a drive that has been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ given the pair solely had two days of testing to gel with the automotive, earlier than stepping as much as the highest class after receiving a name up from Toyota two weeks in the past.

The victory got here in solely Solberg’s thirteenth Rally1 begin, one fewer than what two-time world champion and youngest ever winner Kalle Rovnapera achieved when he took his first win in Estonia, 2021.        

Solberg is now the third youngest winner in WRC historical past, having additionally claimed his first stage win within the course of whereas successful 9 of 20 in Estonia. 

The success has proved immensely standard within the service park, given the arduous work and dedication he’s proven to bounce again by competing within the WRC2 class, after dropping a Rally1 drive with Hyundai in 2022. Social media has since lit up within the aftermath of the win with the success turning into WRC’s really feel good story of the yr up to now. 

“Truthful play to him, he has positively confirmed he’s prepared for Rally1,” Tanak instructed Motorsport.com. “Precisely [it is incredible]. In a technique it was tremendous demanding for each full-time driver however he was in a position to are available in and instantly click on with the automotive and benefit from the roads. 

“Oliver, myself and Kalle have principally grown up competing on these roads however nonetheless for him to click on so properly with the automotive, it is rather properly performed.” 

Eight-time world champion and Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier, who Solberg reached out to for recommendation to assist put together for the rally, was amongst these to congratulate the 23-year-old on social media.   

“What a efficiency, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson. Very spectacular. Effectively deserved, take pleasure in this particular second,” posted Ogier, who will rejoin the WRC Rally1 ranks at Rally Finland in two weeks’ time.  

Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who completed third behind Solberg, admitted it’s extremely uncommon to see such a efficiency of this nature within the WRC. 

“It was unbelievable. It is vitally uncommon. He has been assured from the primary go of shakedown so properly executed to him,” Neuville, who was team-mates with Solberg throughout his tough first spell in Rally1 at Hyundai in 2022, mentioned. 

“It’s good to see and it’s good for the WRC to have some new tales. It was in all probability not his final rally in a Rally1 automotive. The primary win is at all times probably the most tough however after, you need extra.”   

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Staff

Photograph by: Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport

 Three-time Rally Estonia winner Rovanpera, who completed a lonely fourth, added: “He had a extremely spectacular tempo and he did it truthful and sq. and deserves the win. He positively had that feeling the place you simply do it and all the pieces involves you.”   

In the meantime, M-Sport-Ford boss Richard Millener felt Solberg’s success was only a reward for his arduous work and dedication to reach rallying. 

“To steer after day one is one thing the place it’s simple to say he had an excellent street place, however to double the lead on day two after which preserve the lead on day three is fairly rattling unbelievable and very well deserved,” Millener instructed Motorsport.com.

“It’s one other unbelievable story for the WRC. He’s clearly a expertise and you may’t take something away from what he has put in to get to this place. 

“It exhibits what is feasible for younger drivers but it surely takes loads of arduous work and dedication which is what Oliver has executed. 

“It goes to point out that Rally2 is an effective feeder class into Rally1 and Toyota have executed a unbelievable job to arrange him for this rally.”

Photographs Rally Estonia – Day 4