What's next for Solberg and what does the win mean for the WRC?

Ott Tanak summed it up perfectly when he said Oliver Solberg has “definitely proven he’s ready for Rally1” after the latter’s sensational breakthrough Rally Estonia triumph last weekend.

It’s fair to say Solberg has been knocking on the Rally1 door for some time, looking for the right opportunity following impressive performances in WRC2 after his first top flight foray with Hyundai ended abruptly in 2022. Now after a dominant maiden win, beating 2019 world champion Tanak by 25.2s on his Rally1 debut for Toyota, it has put Solberg firmly in the shop window to secure a more permanent graduation to rallying’s top tier. Exactly when that will happen, however, remains unclear.

For now, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson will return to WRC2 behind the wheel of their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 at Rally Finland next week when they will aim to extend their championship lead, and perhaps clinch one of rallying’s most unlikely doubles - back-to-back Rally1 and WRC2 victories.

After achieving such a seismic win, chatter regarding when Solberg would next find himself in a Rally1 seat was inevitable. When asked the question, Solberg told Autosport: “I don’t know [what the future holds], that is for other people to answer. I’ll just do my best. 100% I hope [there is a drive next year].”

When Toyota’s deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen was asked if Solberg’s future lies in Rally1, he replied: “Definitely, yes. This year the target is still that Toyota wants him to win the WRC2 championship. It is important for Toyota and I think he can do that. He has many years to show how fast he is.”

Solberg's triumph gives Toyota a headache when it comes to organising its driver roster for the remaining rounds this year and next. The manufacturer is renowned for investing in young talent with its greatest success story to date being Kalle Rovanpera, having thrust the then 19-year-old into its 2020 top flight line-up after the Finn won the 2019 WRC2 title. Rovanpera has since rewritten what is possible for young drivers to achieve in the WRC by winning back-to-back world titles in 2022 and 2023.

Toyota has shown faith in young drivers and Solberg is the obvious next candidate to make the full-time move back up to Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Last year Toyota opted to hand then WRC2 points leader Sami Pajari a run out in one of its GR Yaris Rally1 cars at Rally Finland. The result was an impressive run to fourth that led to further outings at the Central European Rally and Chile before the Finn ultimately joined Toyota’s full-time Rally1 line-up this year.

It remains to be seen if Solberg will be offered another outing this year after his Estonia success, but it could prove beneficial if there is a wish within Toyota to offer the Swede a Rally1 seat for 2026.

When asked if there was a chance Solberg could be back in a Rally1 this year, Kankkunen added: “Probably not, we cannot field more than five cars, we can’t handle it anymore. The thing was Sebastien Ogier [Toyota’s part-time driver] didn’t want to come to Estonia, so we had a [spare] car.”

"We had messages from Carlos Sainz, Marcus Gronholm, Tommi Makinen and Sebastian Vettel...that have sent such kind messages. I have never seen it like that" Petter Solberg

Whatever unfolds over the next weeks and months, Solberg and Edmondson will now most likely be prominent in the silly season conversations as teams begin to finalise plans for next year.

Last weekend’s success has not only given Solberg’s career prospects a boost. This emotional fairytale story transcended the rally community attracting plenty of eyeballs from the world’s media and lit up social media. It ensured the WRC was part of many conversations.

Oliver Solberg’s 2003 world rally champion-winning father Petter Solberg told Autosport: “We had messages from Carlos Sainz, Marcus Gronholm, Tommi Makinen and Sebastian Vettel, we could mention names from all over the world that have sent such kind messages. I think the PR all over the world from this victory...I have never seen it like that.”

Oliver Solberg's win made headlines around the world

Photo by: Toyota Racing

This surge in popularity has arrived at a time when the championship is up for sale and working towards a transition to new 2027 technical regulations that aim to attract new manufacturers and teams to the category.

Proof the rally pyramid works

The win has also once again proven that the current FIA pyramid works at a time when its make up is under discussion as the WRC prepares for its 2027 shift, which will see Rally2 cars initially join the top flight under one competition umbrella.

In recent years there has been a discussion within the FIA that the gap between Rally2 and Rally1 has been too large for young drivers to successfully make the leap. But Solberg’s win alongside recent success from WRC2 graduates Rovanpera, Adrien Fourmaux, Pajari and M-Sport’s Martins Sesks has outlined that Rally2 is an excellent proving ground for the WRC’s next wave of superstars.

“This is super good for WRC. This is what we need to prove. What I find interesting is that it is not about only a good driver or a good car, these two things have to match,” FIA Road Sport Director Emilia Abel told Autosport.

“It is a strong story that for somebody who has been performing well at WRC2 level, Oliver has been quite consistent in his results and it seems that now was the right time to make the step up.

“It is very important [to get younger drivers through]. It is important to see some new names in the top category and this is what the sport needs and the spectators need, it is refreshing for the championship.”

He might not get another Rally1 outing in 2025, but Solberg looks certain to rejoin the top tier from next year

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool