Oliver Solberg Clinches Historic Debut Win, Secures Toyota’s 100th WRC Victory at Rally Estonia
In an electrifying debut for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), 23-year-old Oliver Solberg delivered a stunning performance to win Rally Estonia, marking his first career World Rally Championship (WRC) victory and securing Toyota’s landmark 100th triumph in the WRC. This breakthrough moment not only underscores Solberg’s rising status in global rallying but also reflects Toyota’s commitment to nurturing young talent and securing a dominant presence in motorsports.
Solberg’s call-up to pilot the GR YARIS Rally1 car came after a string of successful outings in the WRC2 category, where he currently leads the championship standings. His promotion to the premier Rally1 class for Estonia was both a reward and a challenge, marking his 13th career WRC start and his first in the top class since 2022. Backed by co-driver Elliott Edmondson, Solberg made the most of the opportunity in breathtaking fashion.
Following a two-day test session in Finland to familiarize himself with the GR YARIS Rally1, Solberg wasted no time asserting his potential. On Friday morning, he captured his first-ever WRC stage win in the opening fast forest stage, immediately seizing the overall rally lead. By the end of Friday, he had added two more stage wins and carried a 12.4-second advantage into Saturday.
Despite the road-sweeping advantage being neutralized on Saturday as he started further back in the order, Solberg continued to impress. He posted another four stage wins, extending his lead to 21.1 seconds over local favorite and former world champion Ott Tänak of Hyundai.
Sunday’s stages brought added pressure and unpredictable rain, yet Solberg showed remarkable composure. He secured two more stage victories, bringing his weekend total to nine, before locking in the overall win with a controlled drive through the Power Stage. His final margin over Tänak was an impressive 25.2 seconds—one of the most dominant debut performances in modern WRC history.
The triumph places Solberg in rare company. He becomes the third-youngest driver ever to win a WRC round, joining the ranks of his Toyota teammates Kalle Rovanperä and Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala. The victory also places him alongside his father, 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg, as a WRC winner—making them one of the few father-son duos to achieve the feat.
Solberg is now the 16th driver to claim a WRC win in a Toyota, and his milestone victory brings Toyota’s WRC total to 100—dating back to Walter Boyce’s win in 1973 at the Press-on-Regardless Rally in the U.S., during the championship’s inaugural season.
Toyota’s celebration was further amplified by the performance of other team members. Kalle Rovanperä, though unable to match his previous dominant form in Estonia, won the Power Stage and took second in the Super Sunday classification. He finished fourth overall alongside co-driver Jonne Halttunen, collecting crucial points for both driver and manufacturer standings.
Elfyn Evans, who was tasked with opening the gravel roads on Friday—a clear disadvantage—mounted a strong comeback on the final day to finish sixth overall. He also claimed fourth in the Sunday classification and fifth in the Power Stage, leaving him just one point behind Tänak in the driver’s standings.
Unfortunately, Takamoto Katsuta was forced to retire before the final stage due to a mechanical issue after running ahead of Evans for most of the rally. Meanwhile, in the TGR-WRT2 entry, Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen finished seventh after overcoming early technical issues, showing promising pace as they continue building experience at the highest level.
Solberg’s absence from the WRC2 category this round gave other GR Yaris Rally2 drivers a chance to shine. Estonian driver Georg Linnamäe secured second in class on home soil, while Finland’s Roope Korhonen rounded out the podium in third.
Quotes from the Team
Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, offered a personal reflection on Solberg’s journey:
“Oliver, Elliott, congratulations on your victory! I remember meeting Oliver three years ago in Belgium when he asked me to take a photo of him with Juha Kankkunen. Today’s victory feels like a thank-you for that moment. I’m incredibly happy to see him win in a Toyota and look forward to celebrating with him in person next time!”
Juha Kankkunen, Deputy Team Principal, praised Solberg’s maturity:
“This has been such an unbelievable weekend from Oliver. He remained calm and clean under pressure from experienced drivers. It’s been a pleasure giving him this opportunity—and for it to be Toyota’s 100th win makes it even more special.”
Elfyn Evans (Driver, Car 33) commented:
“It’s been a tough weekend. The road position definitely hurt us, and we didn’t quite have the speed we needed. But we scored some points and will keep pushing ahead to Rally Finland.”
Kalle Rovanperä (Driver, Car 69) admitted:
“We gave it everything, and the Power Stage win helps, but we clearly need more pace on gravel. No excuses—we’ll keep working hard ahead of Finland.”
Takamoto Katsuta (Driver, Car 18) said:
“We were managing a mechanical issue that unfortunately worsened today. Our pace wasn’t too far off, but we couldn’t fight at the front. Rally Finland is an important event for me and the team, so we’ll aim to step up there.”
Sami Pajari (Driver, Car 5) reflected:
“The early issue on Friday cost us, but after that we enjoyed the stages. It’s all about learning this year, and I’m looking forward to Rally Finland.”
Oliver Solberg (Driver, Car 99) was ecstatic:
“It’s been the most amazing weekend. I’ve worked for this moment for years. Huge thanks to Toyota, the test team, and especially to Juha, who’s been a hero and mentor this week. I’ve never had so much fun in my life.”
With Rally Finland on the horizon, all eyes will be on TGR to build on this historic win and keep their momentum going in front of their home crowd.
