Norwegian rally driver Oscar Solberg is set to make his European Rally Championship and Rally3 category debut on Rally Liepaja in the entry-level four-wheel drive Fiesta Rally3 car after being gifted his cousin’s Oliver’s ERC prize.
Oliver Solberg won the 2020 FIA ERC1 Junior Championship which gifted him a €100, 000 prize fund to use in the ERC for 2021. With Oliver’s continued success in the WRC resulting in drives with Hyundai as part of their junior programme, the prize has been gifted to Oscar, the son of Henning Solberg.
This prize will allow Oscar Solberg to contest ERC Junior in a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3 from M-Sport Poland. As the prize was initially earmarked for a ERC1 campaign, Oliver’s father Petter made the request to switch the prize which was ratified by the FIA and Eurosport Events.
ERC co-ordinator Jean-Baptista Ley said: “Oliver Solberg followed a path taken by so many young, talented rally drivers by gaining vital experience in the ERC on international-standard events against high-level competition.
“His progression has been hugely impressive, and we are delighted to see him enjoying such a strong start to his career in the World Rally Championship with Hyundai Motorsport. While we would have welcomed Oliver back to the ERC with open arms, it’s so good that he’s been able to take the next step in his career.
“Rather than letting the prize go to waste, we were keen to work on a solution with Oliver and his family and his gesture to pass the prize to his cousin Oscar should be commended. It also ensures the next Solberg chapter in the ERC will be written as Oscar is clearly a big talent who will be one to watch in the new era of ERC Junior at the wheel of the all-new Ford Fiesta Rally3 from M-Sport Poland.”
Expecting a season in the national championship in an ageing Volvo 242, Oscar admits he never thought about being on the start line of Rally Liepaja next weekend.
“I’m a little bit shocked actually,” Solberg said. “I was just focusing on the Norwegian championship in an old Volvo when I got the news and I don’t think it will register until I am putting on my helmet before the first stage on Rally Liepaja next week. This is very big for me and without this from Oliver I would not be here, so I am very grateful.”
“Everything is coming so fast. I just need to find my rhythm and go with it. Hopefully I can show something good and something good will come out of this. Rally3 is a new class, it looks exciting, and although I have not driven the car yet, I was driving Group N cars when I was starting in 2016 so I have some four-wheel-drive experience and I know the Fiesta.”
Should Oscar have a successful season, the prize for winning the EWRC Junior championship in 2021 is a 2022 FIA Junior WRC campaign.
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