Oliver Solberg snatches Super Sunday points to erase his initial blunder: "I made a stupid mistake"

Au Rally From Croatia, Oliver Solberg was among the unfortunate victims of a rally that remained unpredictable until the very last moments. The Swede experienced a truly disastrous Friday, forced to retire prematurely. His mistake came as early as the fifth kilometer of SS1, immediately ruining his chances of overall victory despite having shown a very promising pace from the outset.

« I really think so [that I learned about myself]I made a small mistake, but a stupid one. he admits to AUTOhebdo. Every rally is a new experience for me, with the car, the tires, the strategy. Everything is new. I've now done four rallies; it's not easy, but it's positive. I'm learning a lot for the upcoming rallies. I think now we can start competing properly in the championship. »

Solberg dominant

While his initial mistake weighed heavily on him, Solberg nevertheless proved he was inherently the fastest man of the weekend. He set an exceptional total of ten fastest stage times throughout the event. This performance, however, leaves a sense of something missing, because without his off-track excursion on Friday morning, he could have been a strong favorite for the win.

The pilot Toyota Despite everything, they managed to mobilize their resources during the final stage to limit the damage to the championship and achieve a perfect result on Sunday, effectively pocketing the maximum ten points available during Super Sunday and the Power Stage. Another good Sunday, that's very important. That's rallying for you. The goal was to get a feel for the hard tire. Especially today, to see how it performs on dry asphalt. It was a perfect day. he rejoices. For the championship, it's always good. »

When asked about the fate of Thierry NeuvilleOliver Solberg, who saw victory slip away in the final timed sector, expressed his sympathy for the Belgian, another unfortunate victim of the 2026 Rally Croatia. It's not really my place to comment since I haven't seen the footage yet, but yes, it was a very slippery corner. He should have taken it more slowly. Maybe he was just 5 km/h too fast. It's a bit like me. Whether you do it on the first stage or the last stage, every stage is difficult. Every stage is unique. It's a shame for him. For Takamoto Katsuta, it's unbelievable, but obviously nobody wants to win like that. You can see that rallying is extreme. "Despite being relegated to third place in the World Rally Championship, Oliver Solberg emerges from the event stronger and ready to confirm his speed from the fifth round onwards." WRC, scheduled from April 23 to 26 in the Canary Islands.

Interview conducted by Pierre Barré, in Croatia.

ALSO READ > Rally Croatia: Cruel disappointment for Neuville who made a mistake, Katsuta inherits the victory