Solberg Dominates Rally Estonia, Extends Lead in WRC Return
Oliver Solberg delivered a phenomenal performance at Rally Estonia, remarkably widening his lead to 12.4 seconds over Hyundai's Ott Tanak. This impressive showing marks Solberg's triumphant return to the top tier of the World Rally Championship, where he notably secured his inaugural WRC stage triumphs.
Solberg's exceptional drive, alongside co-driver Elliott Edmondson, was particularly striking given their brief two-day testing period with the Toyota. Starting eighth on the road, the duo rapidly adapted to the new machinery, outclassing experienced Rally1 contenders. Their synergy propelled Solberg to an emotional first WRC stage win early in the day, a feat he repeated on the fourth stage, the second pass through the Peipsiääre test.
By midday service, Solberg had established an 8.5-second advantage over Tanak. The son of the 2003 world champion, Petter Solberg, sustained his formidable pace across the afternoon's three stages. His dominance was further underscored by a third fastest time in stage seven, where he edged out Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux by a mere 0.3 seconds. He concluded the day with a spectacular run on the stage eight asphalt super special, even playfully engaging in a drift competition.
Reflecting on his outstanding day, Solberg expressed immense satisfaction, describing it as the \"best day of my life\" due to leading the rally, clinching stage wins, and experiencing such an incredible connection with his car. Meanwhile, Tanak, despite securing two stage wins, struggled with his Hyundai's balance, an issue that persisted through the afternoon stages, preventing him from closing the gap on Solberg.
Hyundai team-mate Thierry Neuville, initially challenged by adapting to Hankook's gravel tires, improved his i20 N's performance as the day progressed. The reigning world champion successfully overtook Toyota's Kalle Rovanpera in the afternoon, finishing the day in third place, 14.2 seconds adrift of the leader. Rovanpera, a three-time Rally Estonia winner, found it difficult to extract speed from the Hankook tires, conceding that his fourth-place finish, 20.1 seconds behind, was the best he could achieve with his GR Yaris package. He voiced his frustration, anticipating another day of struggle and disappointment.
Adrien Fourmaux, after a sluggish start, demonstrated strong pace in the afternoon, climbing from seventh to fifth place, 29.8 seconds behind Solberg, aided by a fastest time on stage six. Takamoto Katsuta, another Toyota driver, fell to sixth, though he shared the fastest time on stage eight with Neuville. Championship leader Elfyn Evans, also driving for Toyota, faced a tough day, compounded by opening the road, dropping to seventh place, 41.4 seconds back. Team-mate Sami Pajari rebounded from an intermittent power issue earlier in the day to finish eighth, 1 minute and 5.1 seconds behind. Martins Sesks, despite an earlier spin, led M-Sport-Ford's effort in ninth, followed by Josh McErlean and Gregoire Munster. The rally continues with nine more stages, totaling 125.75 competitive kilometers, scheduled for Saturday.
Oliver Solberg's return to the WRC Rally1 circuit has been nothing short of spectacular, as his commanding lead in Estonia underscores his exceptional talent and determination. His ability to quickly adapt to new equipment and consistently outperform seasoned competitors highlights his potential for future success in the championship, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the event.