OLI SOLBERG FLAT OUT AT ARA 2019

There’s no doubting the fact that 17-year old Oliver Solberg is the hottest property in rallying right now. In his first full season of stage rally competition, he has won four of the five events contested, and what’s more he finished second in the other.

Last weekend, Oliver pitted his talents against the historic Idaho International Rally - as part of his assault on the 2019 American Rally Association Championship.

Despite suffering a slew of technical issues on the event’s opening day - Saturday - which culminated in him and co-driver Denis Giraudet being forced into retirement on SS5 - Oliver came back with remarkable pace and determination on day two.

Sunday’s running, saw the Norwegian teenager win five from six stages in the Subaru Motorsports USA WRX STI, and finish ninth overall. “I have lived my life in rallying, so I know this sport’s not going to run smoothly all the time,” explained Oliver. “We had some small throttle and fuel-related problems which meant we couldn’t get any power from the car. It doesn’t matter how much testing you do, when you put the numbers on the doors these things can happen. Rallying is a mechanical sport and it’s part of the game.