European Rally ChampionshipWRC3

Oliver Solberg Enters ERC Asphalt Opener

2 Mins read
Credit: Oliver Solberg Media Office

Oliver Solberg will compete in the season opening round of the 2020 FIA European Rally Championship, Rally di Roma, in his first rally on asphalt.

Solberg, who won on his only European championship R5 appearance on Rally Liepāja last year, will return to the PA Racing team in a Volkswagen Polo for the Italian event between July 24-26.

“To drive on Tarmac is really different to the gravel or the snow. OK, I did some dry stages in Monte Carlo this year, but this is nothing to compare. For Rome, the set-up from the car will be stiffer, completely different,” said Solberg ahead of the event.

“I want to learn as much as I can. My style of driving is quite smooth and quite progressive so I’m hoping I can find a way to drive on Tarmac quickly. I will do some testing before the event and then work a lot with PA Racing to make sure I understand everything from the car side.”

Solberg’s first experience was a tutorial with nine-time WRC winner Sebastien Loeb. Photo Credit: Oliver Solberg Media Office

Despite having no competitive tarmac experience, the young Swede has in the past been taught by non-other than nine-time WRC champion Sebastien Loeb about some of the basics of asphalt rallying as he explained: “The time with Sébastien [Loeb] taught me so much.”

“I was so lucky to spend this time with him and sitting in the car and watching what he was doing made things much more clear for me. He showed me lots about weight transfer, braking, all of these things which are crucial for getting the car into the corner and through the corner without sliding.”

“On gravel, you slide the car more and this can be [the] fastest way. On tarmac, when you are sliding, you can hear you are killing the tyres and taking away the speed. This is what I have to remember when I am getting into the car in Rome.”

PA Racing meanwhile were the team Solberg contested the Bettega Memorial Rallysprint in Bologna with back in 2017. Driving a WRC machine for the first time and at just 16 years old, Solberg beat drivers such as eventual M-Sport Ford regular Teemu Suninen and was only defeated by Kalle Rovanperä.  

The opening round of the 2020 FIA European Rally Championship, Rally di Roma, is set to be the largest rally to take place so far since March following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow @tcfoffroad on: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Avatar photo
656 posts

About author
I'm 23 and studying a Masters in Public Relations at the University of Sunderland after graduating with a Sports Journalism degree last year. I'm one of the co-editors here at TCF and mainly look after the off-road section of the site which covers championships such as the FIA World Rally and World Rallycross series'. Away from writing and studying I have a deep interest in of a lot of different sports as well as trying to be an amateur motorsport photographer and I'm also a big music fan too!
Articles
Related posts
WRC3

Herranen aims to join the 2023 WRC3 class with start in Sweden

1 Mins read
Toni Herranen is aiming to do a part-time program in the 2023 WRC3 season
Junior WRCWRC3

Dominguez confirms continuation in 2023 Junior WRC

1 Mins read
Diego Dominguez has confirmed he will be continuing in the 2023 Junior WRC and WRC3 series
European Rally ChampionshipFIA World Rally ChampionshipFIA World Rallycross

WRC Promoter announces new Rally.TV platform for all series

1 Mins read
The WRC Promoter has announced a new Rally.TV platform which will be including live broadcasting for WRC, ERC and World RX