Solberg handed penalty for drifting on Monaco GP circuit during WRC opener

Oliver Solberg has been issued a five-minute penalty for “exhibition driving” at the Monaco Grand Prix circuit’s Fairmont Hairpin on his way to parc ferme at the Monte Carlo Rally.

Last year’s WRC2 title runner-up was caught drifting around the famous turn, which is part of one of the rally’s road sections. The offence occurred following the conclusion of the final podium at the World Rally Championship curtain raiser for 2025.

Stewards chose to issue a hefty five-minute penalty for the breach although it has little impact on Solberg, having elected not to score WRC2 championship points this weekend.

The 23-year-old Swede finished sixth in the Rally2 class and 13th overall in what was his competitive debut driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car.  

“The Stewards reviewed video evidence. The incident happened on the road section on the way from the final podium in the Principality of Monaco, in the corner ‘Fairmont’,” read the stewards report.

“The driver admitted that he was driving sideways in front of spectators. The driver apologised for his lapse, adding that in his opinion he did not create an unsafe situation.

“The Stewards examined the case in detail and concluded that a potential unsafe situation was created as a turn was approached in a “drifting” mode by the driver of car No. 20 and many people were standing up at that turn.

“Art. 12.18 of the Supplementary Regulations of 93e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo stipulates that exhibition driving is strictly forbidden everywhere due to lack of suitable places.

“The Stewards, therefore, decided that the driver of car No. 20 did not respect the relevant regulations and applied the above-mentioned time penalty.”

It is not the first time Solberg has been penalised for exhibition driving having been slapped with a one-minute penalty for performing donuts at the end of a Rally Portugal super special stage that cost him the WRC2 win.  

In 2022, Sebastien Ogier was handed a reprimand and a €1,500 fine for exhibition driving before the Rally Spain podium.