Monster Energy driver Oliver Solberg is excited for what he hopes could be some of the best winter conditions of his career at next week’s Rally Sweden (February 15-18).
The Umeå-based event marks the start of Oliver’s 2024 WRC2 title tilt aboard his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Predictably, he and co-driver Elliott Edmondson can’t wait to get out there and enjoy the snow and ice of the World Rally Championship’s winter round.
After starting with a crowd-pleasing Umeå Sprint on Thursday evening, Oliver will settle into some fierce competition across the following three days as he chases a repeat of his accomplished WRC2 win at home last season.
Oliver said: “The conditions are looking very, very good. OK, things can change a little bit, but it really looks like we could be in for some of the best winter rallying in a while. And, trust me, that makes me smile!
“There’s nothing quite like driving a rally car like the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in these perfect winter conditions. The studs are biting into the ice to give you incredible grip, and you have the snowbanks on the outside to lean on and carry more speed – sometimes even going a gear higher through some corners.
“You come through these stages flat out and you can’t help but bring this big smile to your face. I love this event.
“Basically we want more of what we did last year. We found a rhythm quite early in the event and we were able to drive to it. The important thing is to make a nice, clean race and not take too many risks with the snowbanks – it’s so easy to get tipped into one and then you spend so long trying to dig the car out.
“It’s important to get good points on the board for WRC2. We showed we have good pace in Monte Carlo last month and that’s a nice way to come into this event. To be honest, I just want to get out there and have some fun in the snow on one of my favourite rallies of the year.”