Oliver Solberg is done with the donuts. The only spin he’s interested in these days is the DirtFish podcast. And that won’t be changing in Olbia. Or anywhere, anytime soon.
His decision to turn full circle with the help of the handbrake went down a storm with tens of thousands of fans in Lousada. The event stewards? Less enamoured. The minute penalty they handed the 21-year-old cost him a second WRC2 win in three starts.
It’s a mistake he won’t make again.
“It’s a shame,” he said. “I tried to do something nice for the fans and that’s what happened. OK, no more donuts now, definitely, I can tell you that.
“The whole thing in Portugal was bittersweet. Normally I am happy with the podium, but this time I was not happy with that one. This one was a very annoying second place. Lots of people have been telling me ever since that we should have won the rally – but in the end we didn’t win.”
While the penalty sparked debate around the service park, Solberg’s moved on and is only interested in the Sardinian roads that lie ahead.
“I have moved on,” he said. “It’s not like I’m in Sardinia looking for revenge or anything like that. I’m looking to do my job and do it the best way possible: I will drive how I drive.
“It’s going to be a tough event. It looks like it could be a warm rally and that can be hard for the car, the tires and the body. Obviously, two runs at a 50km stage on Friday will be tough, but let’s see. Sometimes on this side of the island, the roads are a bit more sandy rather than rocky.”
With so much publicity around his father Petter’s win in 2004, Oliver admitted there was even more incentive to win.
“I’m not sure if it’s added incentive,” he said. “Like you know, drivers want to win all the rallies we start – but my dad won WRC the first time the championship came in 2004, so, of course, it would be nice to take the win here.
“I must admit, I am a little bit confused about all of this story about 20 years since he won; it was 2004 when he won. That’s 19 years ago!”
