Oliver Solberg returns to a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC for Rally Italia
After a stunning debut aboard a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC at Arctic Rally Finland (February 26–28), Oliver Solberg will be back aboard the car which won back-to-back World Rally Championship titles for June’s Rally Italia Sardegna.
Once again, the car will be run by 2C [Compétition] in a programme masterminded by Hyundai Motorsport. The Olbia-based June 3–6 event will be Solberg’s second attempt at Rally Italia Sardegna, following his hugely competitive maiden outing on the Italian island in October last year.
The 19-year-old finished seventh on his debut at the sport’s highest level in the snows of Rovaniemi. He knows he’s in for a very different ride this time around.
The Monster Energy driver said: “It’s fantastic to be back in the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC again. The Arctic [Rally Finland] feels like a long time ago now and ever since I stepped out of the car at the end of that rally, I’ve been completely desperate to get back in it!
“I know Sardinia’s going to be a tricky event — I remember this from last year. The good thing is that I have some knowledge of the event, OK there are some new roads which some of the guys might have done, but I have some idea of what’s coming. And, after Arctic, I have a really good idea of what the car’s like.
“It will be a little bit different on the gravel, but the loose-surface set-up isn’t so completely different. The aim for me is just the same like it was in Finland — to make as much experience as possible. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be driving this car again, so I’m really thankful to Andrea [Adamo, Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal], Alain [Penasse, Hyundai Team Manager] and to everybody in the team in Alzenau for making this happen. And, of course, to 2C [Compétition] for the car.
“Sardinia’s a cool place. When I was there in October, I really enjoyed the roads and we were able to set a pretty good pace there in the R5 car we were using last year. I made a small, small mistake there last year, which cost me the chance to finish first R5 car and eighth overall — but I learned another lesson on that stage.”
