History is about to repeat itself. Sébastien Ogier, brace yourself: the full force of a studious and single-minded Solberg is coming right at you.
Rewind to 1999. Somewhere, anywhere, Colin McRae is testing a Ford Focus WRC. Every time the Scot steps from the car, engineers pounce on him to download more data. And when they’re done – and sometimes even before – there’s an expectant 24-year-old ready with more questions. And more.
Petter Solberg was fast-tracking his way through the sport and saw the 1995 world champion as the cheat code keeper.
“Colin would invite me to the restaurant at night,” smiled Petter, “but he would tell me I could only come if I didn’t ask questions. I promised I wouldn’t. That didn’t last long. I wanted to know everything.”
A generation on and nothing’s changed.
Oliver Solberg has his Toyota team-mate Ogier on speed dial.
Petter saw Colin as his mentor. Séb is the same for Oliver
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can [from him],” said Solberg Jr. “He’s still a little bit old school – he’s still a bit like my family: it’s passion, hard work, fight and the will to be the best. It’s the same for me, I don’t only want to be there – I want to be the best like him one day.”
If we’re honest, the Frenchman knows what’s coming. He knows Oliver. Within the team, he’s been batting for him for a while now – he’s had a glimpse of the future.
Put that to this year’s WRC2 title winner and he’s more than fulsome in returning the appreciation.
“Ogier is a legend,” he said. “An absolute legend. I mean… nine titles is just remarkable. And winning the season with missing three rallies? Being so consistent and taking so many wins as he has? He’s the man, you know, he’s the guy with the most passion, heart, ambition and commitment.
“Séb has it all basically and he’s a fighter who never gives up and that’s why he tells me to be myself and push and be passionate and that’s who I am.
“My dream is to be like him.”
