Oliver Solberg will tackle his home rally in Estonia, hoping to reverse a season marred by small errors.
Back to the Starting Line in Estonia
The 24‑year‑old Swedish‑born driver, co‑driven by Elliott Edmondson, will once again pilot the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 in the 12th round of the World Rally Championship. The pair famously stole the show in Tallinn last year, securing Solberg’s maiden WRC victory and a full‑time seat with Toyota.
After snapping through a pole‑position start, Estonian conditions and asphalt sample are believed to be Solberg’s strongest domain, a claim he says would feel “good” if executed.
Season‑Long Struggles Erode Championship Lead
Solberg’s recent racing calendar has been blemished by mechanical woes in Kenya, climbing crashes in Croatia, the Canary Islands, Japan, and a “total disaster” in Greece. Those errors dropped him to fifth in the standings, trailing next‑to‑lead Elfyn Evans by 59 points.
He wound up fourth in Sweden and made no podium finish since that high‑spot in Portugal.
Re‑igniting the Rally Rhythm on Gravel
“Greece was probably my biggest disappointment this year,” Solberg said, adding that “small details” caused his mishaps but the speed he displayed on tarmac was praiseworthy.
He believes that a strong performance in the upcoming gravel stages will “Get back that good feeling” and move his campaign into the game for the season’s final push.
Team Battles Intensify with Toyota Firepower
All five Toyota crews, including the power behind Sebastien Ogier, will clash for podium positions. Ogier is targeting to stay in front of teammate Elfyn Evans and Elfyn’s rival, Takamoto Katsuta, while confronting the 90 % stage catalogue that remains unchanged from last year.
Ogier complementarily admits playing with “less experience” yet still dashes for a fight for the top spots.
Neuville Looks to Exploit Rough Gravel Advantage
Thierry Neuville, who clocks only in sixth place after a win and a second‑place finish in Portugal and Greece, notes that his i20 N Rally1 shines on rough gravel. He believes that “a little more risk” and “pushing perfection” could allow him to eclipse the Toyota drivers.
With Estonia and the subsequent Swedish Rally Finland gearing up, Solberg’s focus on shaving off the minute mistakes that have crept into his runs might very well put him back on the frontrow for the remaining globe‑trotting events.
"