Oliver Solberg was crowned the winner of the Monte Carlo WRC rally on Sunday, becoming the youngest winner of this rally.
Immediately after the finish, the Swedish athlete received a congratulations from Sebastian Loeb. ”I saw your talent that day. The whole world saw your talent this week. Hats off to you, Oliver, and to your coxswain too. Peter Solberg, you can be really proud,” wrote on his social networks Sebastian Loebwho has won the Monte Carlo Rally eight times.
Photo: Vladislav Maschl
The day in question is 2018. Oliver Solberg was only 16 years old at the time, and it was his first test day on asphalt. His father, Peter, knew he could teach his son this, but was equally aware of who was king of the tarmac in his WRC heyday, and that was Loeb.
That day in France, Loeb spent time with Oliver in his Peugeot 208 R2 and shared his knowledge and experience. Eight years later, just minutes after Oliver won the Monte Carlo Rally, Loeb posted a picture commemorating the day.
Photo: www.facebook.com/OliverSolberg01
”When you look at the list of people who have won this rally in the last 20 years, there are only about four people. And Loeb sent me a long, fantastic message – it means a lot to me,” he writes Oliver Solberg. ”I don’t know what to say. It’s like a dream come true. Although it wasn’t actually a dream because I didn’t think it was possible! My dream was Top 5, Top 3 or something like that, but to win the most difficult and historic rally in the world is just… mind blowing. Probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I want to say a big thank you to the team for believing in me as a factory pilot. This is our second joint rally and second victory.”
Solberg currently has a 100% win record in two starts with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, a feat only accomplished by Markus Gronholm, who won his first two rallies with Ford in 2006.
Photo: www.facebook.com/OliverSolberg01
It should be noted that the last time Solberg was the leader in the WRC standings was in 2005, when Peter Solberg was the leader after the New Zealand rally. “7,575 days when Solberg is the leader of the WRC again,” writes Peter Solberg, who responded to Loeb’s congratulatory message by writing, “The word ‘proud’ doesn’t even come close.”
Photo: @Motor_Sport
After the Monte Carlo Rally, Oliver leads the championship by four points over teammate Elfin Evans.
Last years Monte Carlo WRC winners:
Overall rating:
