It took nearly three years for Oliver Solberg to get another shot in a Rally1 car. It took him just four days to turn that opportunity into success.
Oliver Solberg’s first ever World Rally Championship victory at Rally Estonia clearly meant a lot to him. Greeted by his family and friends at the final stop-line, the tears flowed as the celebrations began.
Just a few hours after achieving a lifelong ambition, Solberg is clearly still processing his accomplishment. But he gave a raw reaction to DirtFish when attempting to sum up what this moment means to him.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable. Incredible,” Solberg smiled. “At the stop-line with my family and everyone, it was just incredible. I think I have no emotion left, you know, I’m drained, but it’s just incredible. Where to understand, really, what I have done? I don’t know.”
That process will take time, but it was special for the entire Solberg clan to be part of Oliver’s career highlight to-date.
In a matter of weeks Solberg's entire life has been turned upside down – for the better
“We’ve always done this together as a family and it’s not always been easy you know,” Solberg reflected.
“[Not] everybody in the world likes it but that’s just how we are and we’ve always believed and always fought and, you know, Toyota as well has been so welcoming and opening and appreciative of the family that we are, and really took it along.
“It’s been just a beautiful, beautiful weekend.”
The obvious question now is what does this mean for Solberg’s future? Immediately, he’ll be back in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for Rally Finland, but with a performance like this a permanent Rally1 stay is surely a lot more tangible.
“I don’t know,” Solberg responded. “It’s been the most fantastic weekend of my life anyway. I couldn’t have done more in every single way. In speed and consistency and whatever you want to call it, but it’s been absolutely unbelievable from every aspect. I’ve never had so much fun in my life.
“To jump back to the Rally2 next weekend is next week’s problem. I don’t care about that now!”
