Rally Estonia: Why is this ‘Best Day’ of Solberg’s career

Oliver solberg Always believed in his talent, but admitted that Estonia, a leading rally on his World Rally Championship Rally 1 Return, left him surprised and speechless.

Solberg made the most opportunity to join his rally 1 rank later this week from Toyota, ending with a 12.8 lead over Hyundai on Friday. Oat Tanak,

Solberg and co-driver after finding out only 24 hours after winning the WRC2 class in Greece last month Elliot Edmondson The GR Yaris rally before going to Estonia is only two test days to get caught with a car.

However, the pair quickly participated with a car with a stunning performance, including not only their first WRC stage win, but the three fastest stage time.

While Solberg had a beneficial early position, 23 -year -old gave impressive speed in his first rally 1 drive since 2022, when he shared Hyundai’s third factory i20N with experienced. Dani Sardo,

“Today was the best day of my life – to lead the rally, to win the steps and the car has this amazing feeling, Solberg said.

“Today I think I have found every feeling. When I was coming back to the service park, I was thinking that ‘Wow what is really going’, it has been incredible.

“Of course (I have surprised myself) I do not have enough experience in the car, and I don’t know how many times others have driven the car. I am speechless.

“Certainly, you are trying and I have made some small mistakes, but nothing is dangerous. There was no problem in that sense, so I was just trying to run my rhythm with the experience that I have in minutes. I just tried to clean and the car is actually working well so that I can be confident to drive like this.”

Asked what was the key to success, he said: “The team has been amazing to help me find a direction that works for me. It is a bit different but it is doing a good job for me.

“I am trying many different things and today, trying things to learn more about the car in different circumstances, sometimes it is a little better and sometimes.”

Solberg’s speed has not come as a surprise for Toyota, the team monitored its performance to run a Toytoa Gr Yaris rally 2 on top of the WRC2 standing this year.

Nevertheless, Tom Fauler, technical director of Toyota Gazu Racing, admitted that such a difference has led the rally to lead Solberg and came as a shock.

“To ensure that we know that Oliver is a sharp man and had a great road situation, perhaps I am biased, but I think he had a good car, so all the ingredients were very good on the first day,” Fowler said. Autosport.com,

“Perhaps it is slightly higher than the expectation of anyone to be leading with a lump sum and a difference. He is completely under control and is not taking any risk. Certainly, for the main team it would be a better digit-wise if we had one of our manufacturer points that was one of the drivers, but he is running a toyota and the whole team is behind him.

He said, “The work he has done and the level of maturity he has shown is the most important thing than what he is doing in terms of driving. He is the driver of one of our rally 2 cars and we regularly look at his data and we know well that he can drive a car, but he is doing everything.”

Toyota team strategy in rally Estonia

Historically, Toyota does not apply the team’s orders among its drivers, and if Solberg continues his speed over the weekend he will be able to fight for victory.

“Absolutely, as you know from history that the driver is the number one in Toyota when they are the fastest and this is a simple formula,” said Fauler.

“Of course if a fight arises, where the risk is too high, as a team we need to advise all our drivers what is the best course to move forward. At this time everything is under control and if it continues in this way, it is really a good shout for the fight to the end.”

Does Solberg feel pressure yet?

A WRC incident is a new feeling for Solberg, so what will be their approach to the nine stages of Saturday, including 125.76 km?

“I don’t know,” he says, “I will do the same drive tomorrow. I have no more experience to take another step yet and I do not want to either want to have it why I am here. I want to have the same feeling and perform my best and see how it goes.”