Petter Solberg: “What Oliver is doing is incredible”

Si Oliver solberg already knew the Volkswagen Polo R5 having driven it earlier in the year, the Norwegian discovered theERC in this category.

On a Rally Liepaja that he had known since last year and participation in a Peugeot 208 R2, the son of Petter Solberg impressed, winning 10 of the 13 stages on the program and overpowering much more seasoned drivers in the championship like Alexey Lukyanuk, reigning European champion.

Oliver Solberg admitted to being a little surprised to have been able to dominate an event where the ultra-fast tempo had marked him during his first contacts with the special stages. “Being the fastest on the first stage was a dream, comments Solberg. Alexey Lukyanuk has always been my hero and before the race I watched all his videos from Estonia, Latvia. I said to my father: “How is it possible to go so fast? I could never do that.”

And then I arrive on SS1 and I win by six seconds! I was like, “What just happened? ". It's crazy. I have no words. It's absolutely incredible. I'm so happy, it's the biggest day of my life. »

Solberg continues his constant progress under the watchful eye of his world champion father, who never ceases to be surprised by his son. “I know we keep saying it, but what Oliver is doing is amazing, specifies the double winner of the World RX in 2014 and 2015.

As he said, we didn't know what to expect from the ERC drivers, but he came and won the rally. Winning is fantastic, obviously, but what stands out is the way he won. From the fastest time in qualifying until the end of the event, he controlled everything and, you know, he was the calmest!

He thought so much about the tires, the strategy and what he wanted from this rally and he achieved all those goals. He is incredible. »

Discover the report of the Rally Liepaja, counting towards the ERC, in issue n°2218 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands tomorrow.