Petter Solberg has revealed he initially planned to take part in this week’s Magic Weekend event at Höljes.
The two-time World Rallycross champion retired from full-time competition at the end of 2018, and went on something of a farewell tour last year appearing at select events.
Many expected him to run in the ‘Legends’ category at this weekend’s event, but speaking in the livestream broadcast, the 2003 World Rally Champion revealed that injury from competition of another kind has kept him out of the car.
“It was the plan and it still is maybe a plan [but] I’ve got a back problem and a hip problem and a leg problem and after all the gaming I’ve done lately, sitting in the sim, I think it’s because of that these have happened,” he said.
“I was actually quite good last week and then I had a big race this [last] weekend with the Oliver in the Race of Champions and after that I fell to pieces again.”
Solberg did however reveal that if he is feeling better tomorrow he could still run in the Legends category, driving the Citroën DS3 that son Oliver is running in the Supercar class – the same car he ran to back-to-back World RX titles in 2014-15 and Oliver ran to the RallyX Nordic title in 2018.
“We’ll see tomorrow but the first priority is Oliver and then if I feel good and everything is okay I will jump in,” he added.
“But I think after the things I’ve been through in the last couple of years, the health is the most important thing now and I’m not running to go out there and drive.
“I love to support Oliver and have a coffee.”
Oliver Solberg faced gearbox troubles in free practice this morning with his freshly-built transmission packing in after shifting up from second gear.
He was able to compete in the first round of qualifying heats though, following a 12-minute gearbox change. The teenager finished the session fourth overall after finishing second in his heat race to Johan Kristoffersson
