Oliver Solberg on a Hyundai i20 WRC at the Arctic Rally!

Author of a remarkable performance in Monte-Carlo, even if it ended badly in the final time, Oliver Solberg will take a new step in his crazy career. At 19 years old and after only eight world races, the Swede will make his debut behind the wheel of a Rally1 during the Arctic Rally (February 26-28), the second round of the 2021 campaign.

Integrated this year into the Korean firm's Junior program, Petter's son will naturally sit behind the wheel of an i20 WRC which will be followed by the 2C Competition team.

« We are of course looking forward to seeing how well Oliver performs, reconnaît le team principal de Hyundai Motorsport Andrea Adamo. There is no pressure on his shoulders, however. He must take advantage of rally and gain all the experience possible, especially regarding the speed of the car in these winter conditions. We hope that he will join the Power Stage, with a lot of fun and happiness, that's the main goal. »

For his part, the 19-year-old is well aware of the challenge that awaits him. “ The Hyundai i20 WRC is completely new to me, He explains. I'll have to get used to the six-speed gearbox, with the change to the steering wheel, the aero, the center differential... One of the advantages of driving in Lapland is that the conditions will be constant and we will use a only type of tire. To think that I've only been competing for four years and now I'm going to drive a Rally1 is truly a dream for me! »

Pour rappel, Oliver n’arrivera pas en terrain totalement inconnu. Et pour cause, mi-janvier, pour sa première sortie avec la i20 R5, il avait terminé troisième de la version de l’Artic Rally Lapland comptant pour le championnat de Finlande. Auteur d’une prestation ébouriffante, il avait échoué à seulement 0 »9 de la deuxième place d’une épreuve remportée par Juho Hänninen, seul concurrent disposant d’une WRC, à savoir la Toyota Yaris.