Why now is the right time for Solberg's WRC Rally1 return

The sheer excitement written across Oliver Solberg’s face as he announced plans to return to the World Rally Championship’s top flight with Toyota at Rally Estonia next week said it all.

Solberg explained “this is a dream come true” and that was plain to see. It wasn’t just a show for his vast social media following either – Solberg is a rallying diehard, just like his 2003 world champion father Petter, and is determined to achieve the ultimate goal in rallying.

“Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 in Estonia… that sounds nice. It sounds incredible,” said Solberg. “Like I said, this is the dream we have been hoping for and working towards. Now it’s here we can’t wait to get going, to get to the test and to drive this amazing car for the first time.”

It is a chance Solberg has been working towards since his first spell in Rally1 – a challenging season sharing Hyundai ’s third factory entry – came to an abrupt halt in 2022. But this somewhat surprise promotion to Toyota’s Rally1 team on Estonia’s fast gravel roads is thoroughly deserved and perfectly timed.

There is no hiding from the fact that with limited seats at the WRC's top table this is an extremely valuable opportunity, in the benchmark Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, for the Swede to showcase why he is one of rallying’s brightest young talents.

Currently leading the WRC2 title standings, there is a case to be made that Solberg is enjoying the form of his life. This year he has taken three WRC2 wins (Sweden, Portugal, Greece) from four starts, with his latest triumph at Acropolis Rally Greece perhaps his most impressive to date. There have never been any question marks over Solberg’s speed, but in Greece the discipline on show as he delivered a calculated drive, picking out and avoiding the dangers that so many of his rivals encountered en route to a dominant victory, was also top drawer. It is proof that Solberg has developed as a driver. Less than 24 hours on from that victory he was on the receiving end of a call from Toyota offering up a coveted Rally1 chance for Estonia.

Solberg emerged victorious from Greece in WRC2, setting up his return to the top tier for Estonia

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“We found a good rhythm and we kept our eyes very open, and we made a decision to drive around every rock we found, even if we lost time,” said Solberg in Greece after climbing to ninth in the championship – ahead of M-Sport’s Rally1 drivers. “Then in the places we knew were OK we pushed on – and I know if I can push I can [gain] time. Then also we had tyre management which helped a lot. It was perfect and on Sunday we could cruise.

“My best victories are always Rally Sweden or Finland as you always need performance and there are so many guys fighting. But from a consistency point of view, control and speed... [this] is probably the best weekend I have had in that sense.”

The 23-year-old already has 12 top flight starts to his name as he looks to grab this welcome second chance. He scored points in seven of those rallies, including a career-best fourth at Ypres Rally Belgium. At the time it felt a harsh decision for Hyundai to end its relationship with Solberg in 2022. Granted it had been a challenging season, one that included some errors for the then fresh-faced 20-year-old, but there had also been glimpses of his potential – which only time in the seat could help refine and develop. Unfortunately that valuable commodity wasn’t afforded to Solberg.

There is a feeling that this latest Rally1 opportunity with Toyota at Rally Estonia is perfect for Solberg. It offers a relatively pressure-free chance to see how he’s developed over the last two years against the WRC’s elite, in proven machinery, on a surface where he is proven to be fast

That said he has more than made the most of his time since 2022. Solberg is a far more refined driver today. He’s aware of the pitfalls the WRC can throw at young drivers, and it must be said that stepping back to Rally2 has been a smart way to rebuild from the setback. Last year he came agonisingly close to the WRC2 title and in the last two seasons he’s claimed the most WRC2 stage wins. He’s leading that statistic again this year too.

“We’ve been trying to be quick and consistent this year. I think it’s been working. We’ve had some good results, even beating some Rally1 cars at times, and I think this has definitely helped,” said Solberg.

Prior to Toyota offering this Rally1 opportunity, Solberg’s name has never been too far away from the Rally1 silly season chat, having been linked to seats at M-Sport-Ford in 2023 and 2024. Although, keen to avoid a repeat of 2022, Solberg has been very wary when it comes to mapping out his future, desperate to ensure he is making the correct next step in his career, with his eyes firmly fixed on a long-term future in WRC’s top tier. Luckily for him, he can afford this strategy, with time very much on his side.

There's an argument that Solberg wasn't given enough seat time to shine at Hyundai in 2022

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

“If I think about my short-term future, maybe it would be very attractive, but long-term my dream is to stay in the WRC for a long time and I don’t want to make the same mistake I did last time with Hyundai,” Solberg said to Autosport last year when discussing potential Rally1 options at M-Sport.

“Obviously, [with] what happened there, you’re very careful about what decision you make. I think M-Sport could be great and they have had a great season, [but] it is difficult. I am one of the youngest [drivers here] but it is a big step for your career and you want to be sure that you make the right one this time.”

But there is a feeling that this latest Rally1 opportunity with Toyota at Rally Estonia is perfect for Solberg. It offers a relatively pressure-free chance to see how he’s developed over the last two years against the WRC’s elite, in proven machinery, on a surface where he is proven to be fast.

Of course, there will be a desire to impress, but a solid drive in Estonia could prove equally beneficial for Solberg’s future. Toyota has already shown it is willing to invest in young talent, having offered last year’s WRC2 champion Sami Pajari a full-time seat in its Rally1 team this year. Pajari was also handed a Rally1 opportunity last year, scoring a fine fourth on debut at Rally Finland that helped pave the way for his 2025 graduation.

Talk about his future aside, this week Solberg will jump behind the wheel of the GR Yaris Rally1 in preparation for Estonia. It will represent the first part of realising that dream of his, and a much-deserved return to the top tier.

“For Estonia, I have good experience – I have been there quite a few times and won with the Rally2 car before. But for now, it’s just about me doing as much homework as I can. The time is quite short before the start, so me and Elliott [Edmondson] will be working on the notes, looking at the onboards and talking with the team as much as we can,” he added. “It’s really happening now. Thanks to Toyota, the dream is coming true.”

One thing is for certain, there will be plenty of onlookers keen to see how Solberg will fare on his Rally1 return next week.

All eyes will be on Solberg in Estonia

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool