Solberg grabs WRC Rally Estonia lead on sensational Rally1 return

Oliver Solberg announced his return to the FIA World Rally Championship’s headline class in eye-catching fashion on Friday, storming to a lead of 12.4s at Rally Estonia.

Driving a factory-prepped GR Yaris Rally1 on what is currently a one-off outing for Toyota Gazoo Racing, the 23-year-old Swede (above) stunned the Rally1 regulars by flying to three fastest times on the lightning-fast gravel roads in southern Estonia and leading for the entirety of the first full day.

Solberg, the son of 2003 WRC champ Petter, collected his first-ever WRC stage win on the first run through 15.13-mile Peipsiaare before backing it up on the repeated pass to reach the mid-leg service halt 8.5s clear of local hero and 2019 WRC champ Ott Tanak’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1.

Setup changes between loops helped unlock more traction from the GR Yaris in the afternoon, allowing Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson to extend the margin over Tanak – who’d earlier taken two stage wins of his own.

“To be leading the rally and to have won a few stages, and to have this amazing feeling in the car, you know – this day has been all about fun,” said Solberg. “I don't know what to say – It's just been the best day of my life.”

Tanak, the winner on the rough roads of Greece’s Acropolis Rally three weeks ago, was roared on by thousands of home fans, but couldn’t quite find the flow needed to trouble Solberg’s pace.

“It's just so loose and [there's] no grip whatsoever,” said Tanak. “I did everything I could, but it is as it is at the moment.”

Local hero Ott Tanak tried to deliver the home fans what they wanted, but struggled for grip and lies second overall in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

Reigning WRC champ Thierry Neuville was third, just 1.8s behind Hyundai teammate Tanak. The Belgian led after Thursday night’s short super special but admitted he was still “fighting” with his i20 N Rally1’s balance and grip throughout Friday’s longer, faster, looser tests.

Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera, a three-time winner in Estonia, finished the day 5.9s back from Neuville in fourth.

“It’s pretty much the maximum we can do with this car and the current feeling,” said the two-time WRC champ.

Adrien Fourmaux endured a muted morning on his first high-speed gravel rally in Hyundai colors, but bounced back to win 14.75-mile Kambja 2 after setup tweaks improved his car’s stability. He ended the leg fifth overall, two-tenths of a second ahead of Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, who lost time in the morning with an overshoot and intercom issues.

Elfyn Evans, first on the road as championship leader, struggled for traction in his GR Yaris as he swept loose gravel for the cars behind. The Welshman languished in seventh, 23.7s ahead of Toyota colleague Sami Pajari, whose morning was hampered by intermittent power loss.

Martins Sesks and Josh McErlean rounded out the top 10 in their M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1s, split by 18.6s. Gregoire Munster was 11th in the third of the M-Sport machines after a difficult day that included brake issues, a tire deflation and an overshoot.

Latvia’s Martins Sesks was best of the M-Sport Ford drivers, albeit more than a minute from the sharp end.

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, Robert Virves delivered a near-flawless drive on home roads, overcoming illness to open up a commanding class lead after the opening leg.

Despite feeling unwell throughout the day, the 2022 FIA Junior WRC champion was untouchable in his Skoda Fabia RS across the fast and flowing gravel stages, winning six of the day’s seven tests to build a 35.3s advantage over fellow Estonian Georg Linnamae.

Virves was on course for a clean sweep of stage wins until a spin just a third of a mile into the afternoon’s Kambja test cost him several seconds. Even then, the damage was minimal.

“I’m still not feeling 100 percent, but it’s getting better,” he said. “[There will be] no big changes on the car for tomorrow.”

Saturday’s second leg is the longest of the rally, with almost 80 competitive miles across nine special stages, including two blasts through the high-speed 10.83-mile Kanepi and 13.33-mile Raanitsa tests.

WRC Rally Estonia, positions after Friday/Leg One, SS8

1 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 1h06m33.4s
2 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +12.4s
3 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +14.2s
4 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +20.1s
5 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +29.8s
6 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +30.0s
7 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +41.4s
8 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m05.1s
9 Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) +1m11.4s
10 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +1m30.0s

• Watch the rally-closing, bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage action from Rally Estonia LIVE on RACER Network and the RACER+ App on Sunday, July 20 at 6:00-7:30am ET, with a same-day re-airing on the RACER Network at 9:30pm ET and Monday, July 21 at 12:30am ET.
• Plus, for a deeper dive into the FIA World Rally Championship, check out the WRC Magazine Show on RACER Network. Catch the latest episode on Sunday, July 20 at 5:30am ET and 9:00pm ET, and Monday, July 21 at 12:00am ET and 5:30am ET. 
• You can find out more about the RACER+ App at racerplus.com.