Oliver Solberg Targets Podium at Rally Sweden 2026

WRC, Sportrik Media – Oliver Solberg says a podium finish would satisfy him at Rally Sweden 2026 despite arriving as FIA World Rally Championship leader with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Solberg holds a 100 percent podium record with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 this season, including a standout victory at Monte Carlo that placed him at the top of the standings for the first time. However, at his home round in Sweden, the 24-year-old is conscious of the unique challenge of running first on the road — a position he has never previously experienced in the WRC.

“There’s still a lot to learn,” Solberg told DirtFish.

“First time with the car on snow, first time doing first on the road, so I think it’s a lot of things I still need to adapt a little bit to.”

“The goal is to have a consistent result, and I’ll be very happy with the podium.”

Opening the road on snow stages presents the risk of sweeping away loose surface, particularly on narrow lines where grip levels evolve rapidly. Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala indicated that Friday’s second loop could define Solberg’s weekend.

“I think the first passage on Friday is going to be fine, but the question is how he manages the second loop on Friday when there are narrow lines and grip level changes,” Latvala told DirtFish.

“If he can manage that, then he can fight for the victory. But if you are losing a lot of time or making a small mistake in that position, it can be tricky.”

Latvala emphasised that motivation and outright speed are not in doubt, but managing the unfamiliar task of road-opening at world championship level remains a key variable. He also noted the competitive ambitions of team-mates Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, both eager to secure victory in Sweden.

When presented with Latvala’s comments, Solberg said the solution lies in maintaining a “big window in the car” and focusing on consistency.

“Have a progressive, easy car to drive and try to be as consistent as you can every stage and try not to make mistakes. I think that’s the key.”

“If you can stay clean on Friday and be there or thereabouts, then push on Saturday and Sunday, I think that’s fully possible.”

There has not been a Swedish winner of Rally Sweden since Kenneth Eriksson triumphed in 1997. Solberg, however, insists he feels no additional pressure from that statistic.

“I put a lot of pressure and expectation on myself, but right now I’m quite realistic. There is too much snow on the first two stages, so why panic about it? There’s nothing I can do.”

With extreme winter conditions and the burden of opening the road, Solberg’s approach in Sweden will centre on risk management and strategic consistency. How effectively he handles Friday’s evolving grip levels could determine whether he extends his championship momentum into the next phase of the 2026 WRC season.