M-Sport in talks with Solberg for 2023

Malcolm Wilson has confirmed his team is in contact with Oliver Solberg over a drive for next year

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M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson has opened negotiations with Oliver Solberg with a view to putting the 21-year-old in a Ford Puma Rally1 next season.

Solberg lost his Hyundai seat after it changed its focus away from developing young talent in favor of a more experienced driver for 2023.

Wilson told DirtFish: “Yes, we’re interested to talk to Oliver and we have talked already – I met him after he came back from New Zealand.

“Obviously, there would have to be a commercial aspect to any deal for next year. We talked about him coming here a couple of years ago.”

Wilson has extensive experience of the Solberg family, having run Oliver’s father, Petter, in two separate stints at the beginning and end of the 2003 world champion’s career.

Oliver wouldn’t be drawn on any discussions regarding next season, but instead said his focus remained on a forthcoming recce for Rally Japan – his last job with Hyundai Motorsport. Before flying to Aichi, he will drive a Volkswagen Polo R5 on the Cambrian Rally in Wales.

Words:David Evans

Photography:M-Sport

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