SOLBERG CRASHES OUT 300 METRES INTO FIRST FINLAND STAGE PROPER
Hyundai’s young Swede “didn’t expect” early crash alongside Brit co-driver Edmondson
Hyundai broke its Rally Finland jinx with its first victory in eighth attempts last weekend, but an event-ending crash for Oliver Solberg 300 metres into the first stage proper was described as a “negative” by team boss Julien Moncet.
Solberg, who was making his second Finland start but his first in a top-level car, made it through Thursday evening’s parkland superspecial in host city Jyvaskyla with the seventh-fastest time.
However, he was forced out after sliding off the road through the first left-hander of the 7.3-mile Laukaa stage on Friday morning and rolling. Although it was initially hoped he’d be able to restart on Saturday, technical checks revealed damage to his i20 N Rally1’s rollcage was too great to continue.
“It was midway through [the corner and] it just snapped, I knew I could never save it,” said the 20-year-old, who has retired from three of the six rallies he’s started in Hyundai’s hybridpowered machine.
“I was hoping just to clip the trees, but I hit a rock that flipped me around, I spun into the trees and rolled.
“I yelled more in shock than frustration. I didn’t expect the rear to go away. I knew the car is a bit lively and I had difficulties in shakedown, but I didn’t expect it at the first corner.
“It’s difficult to take, and I am just devastated for the team who have worked so hard. It’s a pretty tough time right now, but we have to try and keep our heads up, look onwards and upwards.”
Swede Solberg, who is co-driven by Brit Elliott Edmondson, will continue in the third i20 N Rally1 on Belgium’s Ypres Rally, which takes place from August 18-21. Moncet said his young charge would “focus on the preparation” for the event but didn’t comment further.
Moncet was a bit more forthcoming following Ott
Tanak’s third Finland victory, however. “It’s a great day for Hyundai,” he said. “We finally made it after nine years. A great drive from Ott, he has been incredible and we have shown we have a winning car, with no reliability issues.”