Far and away the fastest WRC2 driver on every stage through the final day of Rally Chile, Oliver Solberg did everything in his power to finish the weekend with the 2024 WRC2 world championship in his grasp, but it wasn’t quite enough.
The Monster Energy driver, son of 2003 World Rally champion Petter Solberg, Oliver Solberg arrived at this week’s Rally Chile, his final WRC2 outing of the season, knowing that if he could nail down another victory the ’24 WRC2 title would be his. Leading through Saturday afternoon, all looked good. However, Solberg suffered a slow tire puncture on the penultimate stage of day two that dropped him down to fourth place.
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“We have done everything we could do,” said Solberg. “I came here knowing a win would be enough and it was looking very good. I was comfortable with the car, with the pace and everything. Unfortunately, the events of Saturday afternoon didn’t help us.
“With WRC2, you are taking the best six scores from seven starts — you can start whichever seven events you like,” he explained. “It’s a little bit strange like this — I think we would all like to make the competition a bit more straight where you are all fighting each other and you know who’s the winner.
“It is like it is. We’ve done our seven rallies and regardless of what happens, if we win the title or now, I’m super-proud of the season Elliott [Edmondson, co-driver] and me made with the incredible people at Skoda Motorsport and Toksport. I want to thank everybody for what they have done, the hard work they have put in. It’s been an amazing season. And Chile has been incredible as well. Fantastic rally and people. Thanks to all of the fans out there — it’s been a pleasure to compete here.”
Solberg will now have to watch as his WRC2 rivals compete in the Central Europe Rally Oct. 17-20 and the season-ending Rally Japan, Nov. 20-23