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Chasing the Dream: Solberg's Ascent to Rally Racing's Pinnacle

Solberg's Stellar Season: Dominance in WRC2 and a WRC Upset

Oliver Solberg, partnered with co-driver Elliott Edmondson, wrapped up his maiden WRC2 championship in impressive fashion. The duo achieved their fifth class win of the year at Rally Chile, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 prepared by Printsport. This triumph marks the culmination of a breakout season for Solberg, highlighted by an unexpected overall victory in the WRC at Rally Estonia in July, where he competed in a one-off entry with the factory Toyota team.

Solberg expressed immense joy and a touch of disbelief at his achievements, stating, \"I feel absolutely incredible. I'm overwhelmed and I need to breathe. Oh my god, it has been a fantastic year the whole season. Five wins out of seven and a win in WRC, me and Elliott have done not a bad job.\" He acknowledged the mental toll of the championship battle, contrasting it with a previous challenging experience, and credited a bit of luck for his success. Edmondson echoed his teammate's sentiments, emphasizing that achieving the WRC2 title was their primary goal for the year, and the WRC Estonia win was an unexpected bonus, making it their most successful season imaginable.

Ambitions for the Future: A Full-Time WRC Drive in 2026

With the WRC2 title now secured, discussions naturally turned to Solberg's prospects for the 2026 season. Despite his recent successes, Solberg confirmed that no contracts for a full-time WRC drive have been signed yet. The young talent, son of 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg, remains optimistic that his stellar performance this year will pave the way for a permanent spot in the sport's elite tier.

As of now, major WRC manufacturers like Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport-Ford have yet to finalize their Rally1 driver lineups for the upcoming year. Solberg candidly admitted his desire for a full WRC season, stating, \"This championship [WRC2] is what we always knew we could do and that is a final relief but the WRC win [in Estonia] that was something we hadn't dreamed of quite yet and to do that, this was a crazy emotion.\" He concluded by emphasizing that he has demonstrated his capabilities and is now focused on securing a position with a top team for a full WRC campaign.

Brad Keselowski experienced a deeply disappointing outcome at the Bristol Night Race, a situation he openly described as \"pissed.\" Despite holding the lead as the final caution flag waved, an unfortunate chain of events and a miscalculated maneuver ultimately cost him the victory. The incident, involving Cole Custer merging onto the track and subsequently causing a wreck that included Bubba Wallace, paradoxically provided Keselowski with an opportunity to pit for fresh tires. However, this strategic move did not pan out as expected, leading to a frustrating conclusion for both Keselowski and his team, RFK Racing, who continue their quest for a win this season.

The race took a decisive turn during the restart following the caution. Keselowski, opting for the outside lane, found himself at a disadvantage when Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar unexpectedly slid in front of him. This created a clear path for Christopher Bell to seize the lead, instantly undermining Keselowski's strategic decision. Despite this significant setback, Keselowski's determination remained unshaken, and he managed to close the gap on Bell, setting the stage for what he hoped would be a decisive move.

In a climactic moment, Keselowski attempted a classic bump-and-run maneuver on Bell. However, the contact was too centered, merely pushing Bell forward instead of dislodging him from the lead. Keselowski lamented, \"I hit him, and it didn't do anything,\" highlighting the ineffectiveness of his last-ditch effort to reclaim the top position. This failed attempt underscored the race's persistent challenges for Keselowski, leaving him to reflect on what might have been a much-needed win.

This latest defeat at Bristol adds to a string of agonizing losses for Keselowski and RFK Racing this season. The team has yet to secure a win, and all three of their cars failed to qualify for the playoffs. Keselowski has faced similar heartbreaks throughout the year, including a recent race at Atlanta where he lost the lead on the final lap. His winless streak now extends beyond 50 races, with his last victory dating back to Darlington in May of 2024. These repeated close calls and missed opportunities have undoubtedly amplified the frustration for the veteran driver and his team.

The Bristol Night Race presented another harsh lesson in the unpredictable nature of racing. Despite excellent strategy and a competitive car, a combination of external factors and a critical misjudgment in execution prevented Brad Keselowski from breaking his prolonged winless streak. The unfortunate sequence of events, from the unexpected caution to the failed bump-and-run, encapsulated a season of near misses for RFK Racing, leaving them to regroup and reassess their approach for future competitions.