Oliver Solberg is not giving up on his WRC 2026 title dream despite trailing leader Elfyn Evans by 41 points. With three rallies remaining, the 24-year-old Swede needs a big result, starting with Rally Chile this weekend.
A 41-point gap is significant, but rallying often delivers surprises. If Evans suffers a major misfortune and fails to score at even one event, Solberg could quickly close in. However, Sami Pajari also sits between them, 21 points ahead of Solberg, making the battle even tougher.
Rally Chile presents a golden opportunity for Solberg. On paper, the South American stages suit his driving style, and he is eager to tackle them. "Rally Chile should be another fantastic South American experience. The rally culture is really big there with a lot of passion, and there’s some great stages," he said.
Solberg explained that the stages look straightforward but vary in character. Friday is typically narrow and cambered, similar to New Zealand, while the following days are wider, more like Wales. "It can get pretty muddy when it rains," he added. The road can also evolve significantly between passes, becoming abrasive for tyres.
Solberg has fond memories of Chile. In 2025, he won the WRC2 category and secured the class title. Now his target is at least a podium in the top Rally1 class. "I have good memories from Chile last year when we won both the rally and the title in WRC2. Now we will do our best to achieve another good result with the Rally1 car," he stated.
Rally Chile begins on Friday afternoon Finnish time, featuring 16 special stages covering around 311 kilometres. This is a true test for Solberg to prove he still belongs in the title fight. If he can finish ahead of Evans and Pajari, the championship picture could change dramatically.
With three rallies left, every point counts. Solberg can no longer rely on consistency alone; he needs wins or at least podiums to pressure his rivals. Chile could be the turning point, or it could spell the end of his title hopes.
Baca Juga
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Sebastien Ogier akan menyamai rekor 213 partisipasi WRC milik Jari-Matti Latvala saat tampil di Rally Cile 2024. Simak analisis dan konteksnya.
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