The next generation: Petter vs Oliver in the WRC

Where one door shuts, another one opens; and this couldn’t be more true when it comes to Petter and Oliver Solberg at the upcoming 2019 Wales Rally GB.

Flashback to 2002 first though. Oliver Solberg was one year old when his father started an extraordinary period of dominance of the Wales Rally GB - winning his first ever WRC event on the iconic gravel stages. This year Oliver be 18, and he will make his WRC debut alongside his father - in the same service tent - and using an identical Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

At the same time, Petter - who has three FIA World titles to his name - will end his 19 year professional career. It will be a landmark event - officially signalling the arrival of the next generation of the Solberg family at rallying’s highest stage.

Petter said: “Wales Rally GB has always been a special one for me and the chance to bring my professional World Rally Championship career to a close there is fantastic. There are so many memories from this rally, it’s an event which has really been one of the highlights of my career – winning my first ever WRC round in 2002, then winning the championship a year later was so special. And so special for my co-driver Phil [Mills], who lives there.

“It is going to be an emotional rally, especially competing on a WRC round for the first time with my son Oliver. It’s an incredible moment for the Solberg family as one chapter closes and another one opens.”