Solberg Clinches Historic Monte-Carlo Victory with Record-Breaking Performance
25-year-old Oliver Solberg made history by winning the Monte-Carlo Rally, marking his first victory in the event. Co-driven by Elliott Edmondson from Britain, he raced for Toyota Gazoo Racing and set a new record by surpassing the previous benchmark established by Björn Waldegård in 1970.
Historic Victory in Monte-Carlo
Solberg entered the final day with a significant lead of over one minute. However, the icy conditions on La Bollène-Vésubie posed a challenge. He overshot a corner, briefly facing the wrong direction but managed to recover swiftly, losing minimal time. He later dominated the Col de Turini Wolf Power Stage.
“I don’t understand it at the moment,” Solberg expressed after his win. “It’s an emotional day for me. This rally was the most difficult I’ve ever done. It’s my first rally on Tarmac, and to win here is incredible. I want to thank Toyota for their trust and support. The teamwork has been exceptional.”
Top Performers
- Elfyn Evans: Finished second overall, 51.8 seconds behind Solberg.
- Sébastien Ogier: The nine-time WRC champion secured third place, finishing 1 minute 10.4 seconds behind.
- Adrien Fourmaux: Moved up to fourth with two stage wins, the only driver to break Toyota’s podium sweep.
- Thierry Neuville: Ended the rally in fifth place after suffering a puncture early on Sunday.
Difficulties for M-Sport Ford
The M-Sport Ford team faced challenges during the rally. Jon Armstrong, performing well in sixth place on his Rally1 debut, retired just 700 meters into SS16 after sliding off the road. His teammate, Josh McErlean, also crashed out, while Grégoire Munster faced mechanical issues and retired before the day’s first stage.
Notable Rankings
- Léo Rossel: Impressive sixth place and WRC2 victory.
- Takamoto Katsuta: Climbed to seventh overall after overcoming initial power steering issues.
- Roberto Daprà and Arthur Pelamourgues: Finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
- Eric Camilli: Wrapped up the leaderboard in tenth position.
The WRC championship will continue next month at Rally Sweden, scheduled for February 12-15. This event marks the only pure winter rally of the season, as crews navigate the frozen landscapes near Umeå for the second round of the 14-round campaign.
