Oliver Solberg confident in Japan: "We're just going to keep attacking"

After posting two scratch times on the first day of the Rally In Japan, on the two special stages that the drivers were discovering, Oliver Solberg sits second overall, 15,7 seconds behind Elfyn Evans. The Swede, however, lost some of that gap while avoiding an animal in his path.

“Leader, I don’t know, but it certainly would have allowed me to be much closer.”, the pilot replied Toyota, to our special correspondent, regarding the possible discrepancy without this incident. That's life, there's nothing we can do about it. We'll just keep attacking and see what we can do for the rest of the rally; the end is still a long way off.

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"I think tomorrow will be much more complicated than today."

In Japan, a Toyota quartet proved prophetic in their own land, competing in the brand's final tarmac rally with the Toyota Yaris GR Rally1. Behind Elfyn Evans, co-driven by Scott Martin, Solberg and Elliott Edmondson were closely followed by the nine-time French world champion. Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Vincent Landais, 1,4 seconds further back. With Sami Pajari completing the top 4, Oliver Solberg is therefore surrounded by the drivers who had reached the podium in 2025.

"The two special stages I won this morning were new to everyone, so it was a bit easier to go and win them.", the Swede explainsWhen others know the track very well, you don't want to take risks, you stay put. I think tomorrow will be much more complicated than today for the tires. It won't be as hard as Portugal for the car, but perhaps for the brakes and tires.

Although the Rally is not taking place at the same time of year, which could disrupt the pace established by more experienced drivers, the next six stages will be the same as in the last edition. Oliver Solberg will therefore be looking to reduce, if not maintain, the gap without taking any risks on the second day of the 2026 Rally Japan, which begins with the Obara 1 stage, scheduled to start at 0:41 French time.

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