Solberg edges closer to historic Delfi Rally Estonia victory
Oliver Solberg stands on the brink of a landmark FIA World Rally Championship triumph after extending his advantage during Saturday’s blisteringly fast penultimate leg at Delfi Rally Estonia.
Photographer Credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Photographer Credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content PoolThe 23-year-old Swede, making a one-off appearance in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 alongside his regular WRC2 campaign, will carry a 21.1sec lead into Sunday’s three-stage finale. Victory would see him join an exclusive group of drivers to win on debut with a new team at rallying’s top level.
Solberg has led since Friday morning and added a further four stage wins on Saturday, calmly increasing his margin from 12.4sec over the course of 125 competitive kilometres.
Overnight changes to the set-up of his GR Yaris gave him renewed confidence and he duly posted fastest times on three of the morning’s four tests. In the afternoon, his approach shifted to risk management on stages around Otepää and Kanepi - backing off slightly but losing minimal ground to the chasing pack.
"It's been an absolutely amazing day," said Solberg, whose father Petter was the 2003 world champion. "Really consistent speed, no mistakes, just trying to keep it clean. It wasn't the plan to extend the gap, but hey, it's fantastic.
"I'm just doing my thing and trying to do every stage as good as I can and as clean as I can with no mistakes, and today there have been no mistakes. They are pushing so hard behind, and I can feel it - it's tense."
Lining up behind Solberg are no fewer than three world champions, led by 2019 title-winner Ott Tänak. The local favourite, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, is locked in a fierce duel with team-mate Thierry Neuville for the runner-up spot. The pair traded positions six times throughout the day, with Tänak ending just 4.0sec ahead of the Belgian.
Tänak’s advantage could have been greater, but a costly stall after clipping a chicane bale on the opening stage saw him shed around seven seconds.
Kalle Rovanperä, three-time Delfi Rally Estonia winner and WRC champion in 2022 and 2023, ended the day in fourth. Despite pushing as hard as he felt comfortable, the Finn admitted he was struggling to match the leaders’ pace.
“That’s the harsh truth - the speed is what it is,” he said. “We tried to be fast, but it's not close. I'm pushing all the time, no mistakes.”
Rovanperä did manage to edge further ahead of Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who climbed to fifth after overhauling Takamoto Katsuta early on Saturday. Fourmaux ended 8.6sec ahead of the Japanese driver, who in the afternoon reported “something weird with the car”. Katsuta now holds sixth, just 13.6sec clear of his championship-leading team-mate Elfyn Evans - the Welshman rounding out a steady day in seventh.
Sami Pajari continued to hold a solitary eighth place in his Toyota, comfortably clear of the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1s of Mārtinš Sesks and Josh McErlean, who completed the top 10.
Sunday’s finale features just over 60 kilometres of competition, kicking off with Hellenurme before two passes of Kääriku. The second run hosts the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage where bonus championship points will be on offer.
Standings after Saturday (SS17/20):
Solberg has led since Friday morning and added a further four stage wins on Saturday, calmly increasing his margin from 12.4sec over the course of 125 competitive kilometres.
Overnight changes to the set-up of his GR Yaris gave him renewed confidence and he duly posted fastest times on three of the morning’s four tests. In the afternoon, his approach shifted to risk management on stages around Otepää and Kanepi - backing off slightly but losing minimal ground to the chasing pack.
"It's been an absolutely amazing day," said Solberg, whose father Petter was the 2003 world champion. "Really consistent speed, no mistakes, just trying to keep it clean. It wasn't the plan to extend the gap, but hey, it's fantastic.
"I'm just doing my thing and trying to do every stage as good as I can and as clean as I can with no mistakes, and today there have been no mistakes. They are pushing so hard behind, and I can feel it - it's tense."
Lining up behind Solberg are no fewer than three world champions, led by 2019 title-winner Ott Tänak. The local favourite, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, is locked in a fierce duel with team-mate Thierry Neuville for the runner-up spot. The pair traded positions six times throughout the day, with Tänak ending just 4.0sec ahead of the Belgian.
Tänak’s advantage could have been greater, but a costly stall after clipping a chicane bale on the opening stage saw him shed around seven seconds.
Kalle Rovanperä, three-time Delfi Rally Estonia winner and WRC champion in 2022 and 2023, ended the day in fourth. Despite pushing as hard as he felt comfortable, the Finn admitted he was struggling to match the leaders’ pace.
“That’s the harsh truth - the speed is what it is,” he said. “We tried to be fast, but it's not close. I'm pushing all the time, no mistakes.”
Rovanperä did manage to edge further ahead of Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who climbed to fifth after overhauling Takamoto Katsuta early on Saturday. Fourmaux ended 8.6sec ahead of the Japanese driver, who in the afternoon reported “something weird with the car”. Katsuta now holds sixth, just 13.6sec clear of his championship-leading team-mate Elfyn Evans - the Welshman rounding out a steady day in seventh.
Sami Pajari continued to hold a solitary eighth place in his Toyota, comfortably clear of the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1s of Mārtinš Sesks and Josh McErlean, who completed the top 10.
Sunday’s finale features just over 60 kilometres of competition, kicking off with Hellenurme before two passes of Kääriku. The second run hosts the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage where bonus championship points will be on offer.
Standings after Saturday (SS17/20):
1. O Solberg / E Edmondson SWE Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 2h 08m 05.4s
2. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +21.1s
3. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +25.1s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +51.6s
5. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +1m 08.2s
6. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1m 16.8s
2. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +21.1s
3. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +25.1s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +51.6s
5. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +1m 08.2s
6. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1m 16.8s
