Oliver Solberg has told DirtFish he knew he wasn’t going to be able to avoid an incident as soon as he entered the Rally Finland corner that led to his retirement.
The Hyundai driver had been seventh place overnight after the Harju street stage, but just 300 meters onto the first forest stage of the rally – Laukaa – he ran wide on a sweeping left-hander, clipped a tree with the rear and rolled out of the event.
“The rear snapped again, I just lost control and I knew I was never going to get it back,” Solberg explained.
“I saw the tree and when I hit the tree I thought I was going to spin but unfortunately it rolled over, so I don’t know if you’d call it bad luck or stupid or whatever I don’t know but… yeah difficult. Very difficult.”
Solberg’s crash is the latest setback in what’s been a punishing maiden World Rally Championship season at the top level for Solberg who made a driving mistake in Croatia and has battled with several mechanical and car-related issues throughout the year.
“Yeah for sure it’s not easy but it’s been a lot of bad luck,” he said.
“OK Croatia and here were accidents but in both the rear snapped, so it’s very difficult to understand why these things happen for myself. Sorry, but…”
A clearly emotional Solberg took that pause to break away as he struggled to fight back the tears.
“I don’t know what to say,” he continued.
“It’s difficult and we know it’s very difficult in the team at the moment. Also with the car and so on, but it’s difficult to find that balance if you want to be last and want to try to be fast. I don’t know.”
Both Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson were uninjured in the accident, but significant damage was caused to the car’s rollcage meaning they will take no further part in the event.
