Oliver Solberg has retired from the Roger Albert Clark Rally for good, stopping on Monday’s first stage.
Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson were leading the event by over five minutes after 27 of 33 tests, but retired on Sunday’s last stage in Kielder with a driveshaft problem.
Failing to finish Harwood 2 earned Solberg a stage maximum of 22m00s, but his healthy margin beforehand meant that still left him fourth overall, five minutes off the lead.
Incredible work from the Viking Motorsport team enabled Solberg to restart the rally on Monday. And with five stages to go – including the mammoth 39-miler aptly named The Big One – he still sensationally had a shot at victory.
However, with no choice but to send it, Solberg’s challenge ended just a few corners from the end of SS29 Shepherdshield. The car is stuck in a ditch and both crew members are OK.
“We were caught out by the mud and unfortunately we have slid off the road in SS29,” said Solberg.
“We are both OK, we are just unable to get out the thick mud.”
Three-time R.A.C. winner Marty McCormack is on track for a fourth event victory alongside co-driver Barney Mitchell.
