Oliver Solberg rolled around in dramatic fashion in Rally Portugal. Photo: Micke Fransson / TT / NTB
Oliver Solberg (22) led the WRC2 class in Rally Portugal until he lost control of the car and rolled around on Saturday’s second speed test.
Saturday 11 May at 12:03
It happened just after the Finnish top driver Kalle Rovanperä had also driven off the road. Thus, both the leader of the rally and the leader of the WRC2 class, the second most prestigious WC class, went out in a short space of time.
– Unfortunately, we are done for today. After seeing Kalle drive off the road I was distracted, and I rolled around in the next bend, writes Solberg the messaging service X.
At the same time, he says that both he and map reader Elliott Edmondson came out of the incident unscathed.
– Elliott and I are both OK, but we are out for today.
Solberg’s car rolled several times, but he and Edmondson were able to get out of the car without assistance. You could hear Solberg exclaimed “Damn” as he took off his seat belt.
The downhill runs mean that Frenchman Sebastien Ogier has taken over the overall lead in the rally at the time of writing. Yohan Rossel is in the lead in the WRC2 class.
The gravel rally in Portugal continues with a further seven speed tests on Saturday and ends on Sunday.