Solberg Stuns WRC Field with Early Rally Estonia Lead in Rally1 Return
In a surprising turn of events at Rally Estonia, Oliver Solberg, currently leading the WRC2 standings, made an impressive impact on his return to the Rally1 category with Toyota. He secured his initial top-tier stage victories and seized the rally lead, showcasing remarkable speed and adaptability. His performance has notably surpassed expectations, considering his previous focus on merely completing the event.
Solberg, alongside his co-driver Elliott Edmondson, quickly demonstrated a strong synergy with their GR Yaris Rally1 vehicle. Their seamless integration and effective handling of the car allowed them to establish an 8.5-second advantage over Hyundai's local favorite, Ott Tanak, with Toyota's Kalle Rovanpera trailing in third by 10.7 seconds. This strong start underlined Solberg's immediate competitiveness in the Rally1 circuit after his absence since 2022.
Despite publicly stating that his primary objective for Rally Estonia was merely to finish, Solberg’s drive told a different story. He dominated the second stage, Peipsiaare, a 24.35km stretch, starting eighth on the road and outperforming the field. This triumph secured his maiden WRC career stage win, eliciting an emotional reaction at the stage's conclusion.
Solberg's exceptional performance continued into the third stage, where he finished closely behind stage winner Tanak, and then went on to win the second pass through Peipsiaare by a margin of 2.8 seconds over Rovanpera. He narrowly missed winning stage five by just 0.9 seconds to Tanak, further cementing his unexpected dominance. He expressed profound satisfaction with his vehicle, describing the Toyota as "the best car I have ever driven."
Conversely, Ott Tanak had anticipated difficulties in contending for victory due to persistent issues with the front end of his Hyundai i20N. He visibly struggled to manage his car through the stages, despite managing to clinch victories in stages three and five. Tanak, a 2019 world champion, admitted to facing a "massive struggle" in maximizing the potential of his i20 N, indicating that the car's setup did not align with his preferred driving style.
Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanpera, a two-time world champion and three-time Rally Estonia winner, also encountered challenges in adapting to the Hankook tires on the fast, smooth gravel surfaces. Despite his consistent pace keeping him in contention, Rovanpera voiced dissatisfaction with his performance, emphasizing the need for improved traction. Similarly, Thierry Neuville of Hyundai, who had led overnight after winning Thursday’s super special, admitted a lack of confidence with the tires in high-speed conditions. Neuville aims for a strong points haul to bolster his championship defense, currently holding fourth position, 12 seconds adrift. An incident involving a spectator briefly halted stage three, though no competing car was involved.
Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta, despite battling an intercom issue on stage three, managed to maintain fifth position. His teammate, championship leader Elfyn Evans, faced a significant disadvantage by opening the road, a challenge that proved more substantial than anticipated, placing him sixth, just half a second behind Katsuta. Sami Pajari, another Toyota driver, endured a difficult morning marked by intermittent power loss, which severely hampered his confidence, leaving him in eighth. Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai acknowledged a cautious start but progressively improved his pace, finishing the morning in seventh.
The M-Sport-Ford team experienced multiple setbacks with their drivers. Josh McErlean and Gregoire Munster both overshot a junction in stage three, while Martins Sesks suffered a spin. Munster further encountered a front-right puncture after hitting a rock in stage four, relegating him to eleventh place, behind McErlean in ninth and Sesks in tenth.
The Rally Estonia has commenced with unexpected leadership changes and dynamic performances, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the event.