WRC Sweden: Local hero
Sweden has produced many great rally drivers, including two world champions in Bjorn Waldegard and Stig Blomqvist. The country's current star Oliver Solberg is the son of a world champion too, albeit one who came from Norway: Petter Solberg, who won the WRC title in 2003 with Subaru and Pirelli. Oliver's mother Pernilla is Swedish (and also a fast rally driver) and she grew up in Torsby where Rally Sweden used to be based.
Oliver is truly a local hero. Having been driving (and winning) from a very young age in crosskarts and rallycross, Solberg Jr won the European Rally Championship's junior title on Pirelli tyres in 2020 and came close to taking the overall crown too. The following year he made his debut in the WRC's top category aged just 19 and was part of the factory Hyundai team on eight rounds last year.
Still only 21, Solberg is taking one step back in 2023 with the goal of moving his career to new heights. His latest mission is the WRC2 title in the new Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Having already won 10 stages in his class on Rallye Monte-Carlo, he begins his title bid for real at home in Sweden.
