WRC2 paceman Oliver Solberg will remain in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for next season’s World Rally Championship.
The 22-year-old Swede, who posted the most stage wins in WRC2 this season, confirmed his plans with Škoda Motorsport on Thursday morning, shortly before entries for the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally closed. Precise details of Solberg’s program have yet to be confirmed, but he will be making a concerted WRC2 assault.
“It’s fantastic news to stay with Škoda next season,” Solberg told DirtFish. “I’m very happy to be working with the team again. On event, for me, not much will change from this season.
“I don’t know yet what the exact number of rallies will be, but I hope to be in the car quite a lot. I’m very keen to do some of the development and testing work with the Fabia. It’s exciting to be back and I think you can understand that the target has to be the title for WRC2.
“Škoda has made so much success in this sport and, of course, with Andreas [Mikkelsen] recently. It’s really an honour to work with them.”
Solberg will continue with co-driver Elliott Edmondson and his longstanding Monster Energy partnership.
“Elliott is fantastic,” said Solberg, “we have a very good relationship and a lot of fun in the car. And, of course, Monster Energy is part of the Solberg family.”
Head of Škoda Motorsport Michal Hrabánek said: “We are very happy to continue our relationship with Oliver and Elliott. We saw great speed from them this season and I’m sure this will be the same into 2024.
“Winning WRC2 this year was another demonstration of the consistent performance of the Fabia RS Rally2 – having Oliver with us for next season puts us in a very strong position to continue this winning story.”
Solberg won two WRC2 rounds this season, but suspension issues in Sardinia and Estonia allied to a fuel pump-related retirement on the Acropolis Rally forced him out of the title race.
