Oliver Solberg after his mistake at the Canary Islands Rally: "I was a bit too optimistic"

The duel was magnificent between the two men, who traded blows and scratches. Throughout the weekend, the volcanic asphalt of the Canary Islands was the scene of a showdown between the nine-time world champion, Sébastien Ogierand the young wolf from ToyotaOliver Solberg. But at kilometer 14,7 of SS17, the clock came to an abrupt halt for the Swede. A jump, a wide line, and a right front wheel torn off against a barrier ended his hopes of success in the Canary Islands.

"It was a right turn over a jump."explains Oliver Solberg. "During the first run in the rain, we were much slower, and this afternoon, in dry conditions, I was a bit too optimistic on that jump. I jumped a little too far. I went into the barrier, unfortunately."

The outcome is all the more cruel as Oliver Solberg, who set five fastest stage times over the weekend, was only a hair's breadth behind Sébastien Ogier, barely 2,2 seconds behind, when he made his mistake. It's a huge disappointment. Perhaps I should have been satisfied with second place. he contemplates. But we'd been battling with Sébastien since the start of the weekend. It was an incredible fight. The feeling in the car was great. I don't think I was pushing too hard during the stage; the pace was the same as usual. I just made that small mistake on that jump. It's very disappointing. "Solberg also deprives Toyota of a quintuple victory that seemed to be in the bag since the second stage of the Rally of the Canary Islands.

This second consecutive setback after Croatia weighs heavily on the championship, where he now stagnates in fourth place, with 68 points. "It's a complicated season, he admits. The speed and rhythm are there. It's a learning curve. There are ups and downs. »

"I need to release the pressure." 

However, the Scandinavian prodigy has no intention of curbing his natural attacking style to secure points. I don't want to be one of those drivers who's fast sometimes and finishes fifth or sixth. That's not my dream; my dream is to give it my all., he insists. We had a fantastic battle against Sébastien Ogier this weekend. That kind of thing happens when you're fighting. Elfyn, Sébastien, and I are much faster than the others. Unfortunately, I was the only one who made a mistake. »

Demanding and a perfectionist, Oliver Solberg allows himself no respite even as he competes in his first season driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Perhaps I need to take a step back, ease the pressure, and focus less on the pure result. It might be too early to think like that. he admits. But when the speed is there, and you're battling with the top drivers in every rally, and you know you can do it, it's hard not to push. But I never give up. Mentally, I'd recovered well from Croatia. That's life. I have to focus on the positives: the speed and that fantastic battle with Sébastien. »

He will need to convert this resilience into points in the next round, or risk seeing the championship train slip away for good.

Interview by Pierre Barré. 

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