WRC, Sportrik Media - Oliver Solberg carried out a test programme with Toyota Gazoo Racing on Tuesday at a new testing area near Mikkeli as part of his preparation for Rally Sweden, with road conditions extremely cold and temperatures dropping to around minus 15 degrees Celsius.
The 24-year-old is currently riding strong momentum after making history as the youngest-ever winner of the Rally Monte Carlo in the World Rally Championship. Since stepping into the Toyota Rally1, Solberg has claimed victory in both of his first two outings with the Japanese manufacturer, including his maiden WRC win in Estonia last summer.
The Mikkeli test focused on refining the Rally1 package for extreme winter conditions, with particular attention on traction, chassis balance, and drivetrain response on icy surfaces. The consistently low temperatures provided an ideal environment to simulate the specific demands of Rally Sweden, where precision and confidence on snow and ice are decisive performance factors.
Solberg is widely regarded as a snow specialist, a reputation that strengthens his status as one of the leading contenders for victory at his home rally. Last season, he secured victory in the WRC2 category in Sweden and finished ninth overall, demonstrating his ability to compete effectively against Rally1 machinery in challenging winter conditions.
That performance followed two highly successful seasons in WRC2, where Solberg claimed class victories in 2023 and 2024 driving for Skoda. His consistency on snow rallies has formed a key foundation for his transition to the top tier of the World Rally Championship with Toyota.
With a combination of winter rally experience, early-season victories, and a structured testing programme, Solberg heads into Rally Sweden as a key benchmark for performance. The event is expected to provide a crucial indicator of how far Toyota and Solberg can sustain their early momentum in the World Rally Championship title fight.
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