Oliver Solberg Named in Hyundai’s 2022 WRC Safari Line-up

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team has named youngster Oliver Solberg in its line-up for the 2022 WRC Safari Rally Kenya slated for Naivasha on the weekend of June 23-25.  

The team comprises its core outfit of Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja and Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe while Solberg will be teaming up with Elliot Edmondson.

Solberb has so far been entered by Hyundai in the first three opening rounds of the 2022 season but retired from two of them at Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Croatia. 

The Swede nevertheless managed to power the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car to a credible sixth position on home turf.  

Solberg is sharing Hyundai’s third factory Rally1 machine this season with Spaniard Dani Sordo who has been confirmed for this weekend's Portugal as well as Rally Italia Sardegna in early June.  

According to www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk, Solberg has been entered for the support category of WRC2 in Portugal in a private entered Hyundai i20 Rally2 fielded by ‘Racing 4 You’ but will miss out on Sardinia completely.

This will go down as Solberg’s second career WRC Safari Rally following his late inclusion in the 2021 edition.

Last year Solberg had been expected to drive an i20 WRC at Rally Italia Sardegna, only for those plans to be changed after his father, 2003 world champion Petter, tested positive for coronavirus, sending the family into quarantine.  

Solberg retired from Safari with chassis damage sustained by a 19G impact going through a compression and into a bank in last year’s Friday opening stage.

His Safari debut was, by and large, a tormenting experience starting with the Loldia shakedown where he clipped something in a bush and damaged the front-right corner of his Hyundai.

He nevertheless returned 8th fastest on Thursday’s Super Special at Kasarani last year. 

WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2022 is proudly sponsored by KCB Bank Kenya and Toyota Kenya among others. 

The event will revolve around Nairobi and Naivasha covering a total distance of 1226.23km. 

Shakedown returns to Ndulele Conservancy for the second year running on June 22, whereas Kasarani Super Special Stage on June 23 will enable WRC crews to recce in their Rally 1 hybrids prior to action proper.