No jump, just learning for Oliver in Fafe
Oliver Solberg’s pursuit of European Rally Championship glory will take him to one of world rallying’s most famous places next week.
The third ERC round of the season lands the series in the hotbed of Portuguese rallying: Fafe for Rally Fafe Montelongo. But it’s not really Fafe like we know it.
This town in the northern Portuguese municipality of Braga is famous throughout the rallying for a very (very, very) big jump. But that giant leap won’t feature on the route this week. Instead, it’s all about the asphalt.
“It’s a little bit strange to be going to Fafe for a Tarmac rally,” said the Monster Energy-backed teenager. “In some ways, it’s a shame that we don’t come for the gravel roads — and that jump!
“But the good thing is that we’re coming to a new rally. This is a level playing field for everybody here. I like that. All the people I am competing with in the ERC, they have the same experience for this rally as me: none! OK, there will be some quick Portuguese drivers I am sure for that, but for the fight for the championship, it will be more equal.”
Rally Fafe Montelongo will be Oliver’s second asphalt outing, following his stunning all-Tarmac debut at the Rally di Roma in July. The 19-year-old finished third in the Italian capital, before storming into ERC contention with a comprehensive victory on the Latvian dirt at Rally Liepāja on the following ERC counter.
“Hopefully, Fafe should be a little bit more straightforward than Rome,” said Oliver. “At least now I have some experience of the car on this surface and what to expect — but I am certain that I am still learning for this kind of rally. That’s sure, I know I still have to take more events before I have the same kind of feeling.
“For me in Fafe, the focus is for the championship and taking that event-by-event. I don’t look any further than the next rally. I know that my family team has done really good work with the [Volkswagen] Polo R5, so we have a good car for the weekend!”
Oliver starts Rally Fafe Montelongo four points off the ERC lead.
