Dealer
Solberg set for WRC return with VW
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Petter Solberg will drive a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at Rally Spain (25-28 October) – six years after his last appearance in the FIA World Rally Championship.
The 2003 World Rally Champion, who wears a STILO WRC DES ZERO 8860 helmet, will be co-driven by fellow Norwegian Veronica Engan.
Solberg’s last WRC outing was Rally Spain in 2012, although he has since contested some historic events in an Escort Mk2 with his wife Pernilla and son Oscar co-driving, with great success.
The 43-year old, who is the last Nordic driver to win the World Rally Championship title, has previously driven for Toyota, Ford, Subaru and Citroën, but his 189th WRC appearance will be his first for VW – and his first rally in an R5 car.
“The opportunity to make a WRC comeback with Volkswagen is a unique one, and I was very happy to accept the offer,” said Solberg. “When I drove the car in January in Sweden, I didn’t want to stop. Everything about the Polo GTI R5 worked from the very beginning. I am really looking forward to the Rally Spain. I always used to like the combination of gravel and asphalt. It will obviously be a special feeling to return to the place I brought the curtain down on my rally career back in 2012. It will be a fantastic reunion with the WRC Family, but one with a professional background. I obviously want to get the R5 Polo off to a good start with a good result.”
“Petter is a true rally hero,” added Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets. “We have already experienced his passion and professionalism working alongside him in World Rallycross. To give everything, always 110 per cent is Petter’s trademark. He has tested the Polo GTI R5 and has always been one of our preferred candidates for the debut of our new customer sport car. It is fantastic that he will drive the R5 Polo in Spain. Everyone in the team is looking forward to the rally and to working with Petter and his team-mate Eric Camilli.”
The choice of co-driver for the Rally Spain was an obvious one. Veronica Engan has competed alongside son Oliver in various R2 rallies since 2017, and is virtually a member of the family. The 34-year-old can point to roughly 150 starts with Nordic rally drivers, including Eyvind Brynildsen, Marius Aasen, Johan Kristoffersson, Bernt Kollevold and Anders Grøndal. Her career started in 2003, since when she has 27 WRC and seven WRC2 rallies to her name. Her best result came in 2009, when she finished seventh alongside Mads Østberg at the Rally Italy on Sardinia.
