Oliver Solberg dismissed suggestions that he was taking too much risk ahead of his premature exit from the Rally Japan victory fight.
The Toyota World Rally Championship driver had been reeling in rally leader Elfyn Evans when he slid wide in a left-hander in Stage 10. The loss of control resulted in an impact with a tree, which caused terminal damage to his car’s right-rear suspension.
The retirement triggered a reaction from team-mate and mentor Sebastien Ogier when the latter learned of his crash: “It’s not a surprise. This morning I’ve seen the risk he’s taking is too high. Unfortunately it’s not really a surprise, but it’s a shame.”
After returning to the service park Solberg explained the incident and addressed the comments made by Ogier.
“Of course, we are pushing for seconds in the top three, but it was nothing different to any other stage that I drove,” said Solberg.
Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
He added: “A big disappointment again on tarmac, unfortunately it’s been tough. We were fighting well and I felt really good in the car, very comfortable.
“I wasn’t really pushing anything crazy, just trying to do what I did all weekend. I just came down to this place and it had quite slippy cuts and was muddy. I didn’t really expect this when I arrived and just braked a little bit too late and hit that pole and broke the rear suspension.”
The accident is the third Solberg has suffered on asphalt this season, having crashed out of a victory fight with Ogier in the Canary Islands, which followed an off in the opening stage in Croatia.
“Tarmac for sure has been tough. Again, on tarmac the speed has been fantastic, fighting with the two best guys in the world every time and consistently so,” he added.
“The margins are very small on this level in Rally1 and I think that’s what I just need to try to understand better in all these different scenarios that’s been happening on tarmac with tricky places. I don’t really have an answer for it [the crashes on tarmac].”
Reflecting on Solberg’s retirement at the end of Saturday’s leg, Ogier admitted he was frustrated to see his team-mate retire, having been impressed by his speed.
“Honestly, as a team-mate, we are frustrated that he has gone off because so far the speed he has shown is amazing. There is no question about that, but there are mistakes coming up in rallies so the focus needs to be there at the same time,” said Ogier.
Sebastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
“It is part of the game and the learning as well. Not so many drivers can show this kind of speed. It is positive but rally is about being fast and consistent and that second part is missing, but he has many years to prove that.”
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala was able to empathise with Solberg, having been in similar situations during his own WRC career.
“I know very, very well the feeling with Oliver,” said Latvala. “First of all, I have to say he’s the fastest driver in the championship at the moment. But he is not the most consistent. Elfyn Evans is the most consistent and if you like Ogier as well, the high speed and the consistency are really, really high-level.
“So with Oliver, he is young, he is ambitious. He wants very much and he wants to win, which is great. You need to have that. If you don’t have it, you’re never going to be a world champion.
“I said [to Oliver] that you have to respect that Ogier has experience and you have to understand.”
Latvala also admitted that it was important the team stood by and offered support to Solberg during this period of learning in what is the Swede’s first full season in the WRC’s top tier.
“The most important thing is that we need to keep supporting him,” said Latvala. “Even though the mistakes have happened this year, this is clear, we need to keep supporting him. We know that his potential is very, very high, but together we need to find the tools to find the consistency for that great speed.
“I know the most difficult thing is to take that 2% out of your speed. Your mind wants to win and when you are backing off a little bit, your brain says ‘no don’t do that, don’t do that, no, you have to go, you have to go’. And you’re fighting with yourself. You have to accept and trust that the speed is enough.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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