Not content with chasing rally titles in Latvia and Estonia, 16-year-old rising star Oliver Solberg will combine his programme with a return to the RallyX Nordic Championship as well.

 

Oliver, who won two RallyX Nordic rounds last season, returns to the six-round series determined to turn last year’s season-long silver into gold.

 

Oliver’s 2018 entry in a DS 3 Supercar will run by the family PSRX squad, with parents Petter and Pernilla – and grandparents – supporting him through the year.

 

“I’m really happy to be back in RallyX Nordic,” said Oliver. “Driving these supercars is so much fun! The championship is looking good again this year, with rounds in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland and the competition will be really close.

 

“I have got to say a very big thank you to my sponsors for their support in my season. They know me, they know my dreams and they believe in me. It’s fantastic to work with sponsors who understand me and my plan to take experience from this sport as we plan the road ahead and the future together.

 

With his father Petter competing in the World Rallycross Championship, Oliver admitted there is some rivalry over the breakfast table if they’ve both been competing at the weekend.

 

“We both hate to lose,” said Oliver, “so it’s fantastic when we both have a good weekend, but it can be pretty tough for mum if we’ve both had a difficult one! I’m really fortunate to have their support, both of them understand the competition – it runs in the blood in the Solberg family, right from both of my grandparents.

 

“This is going to be an important year for me. I’m studying hard at school in Le Mans and working with my Bertel O Steen Peugeot [208 R2] in Latvia and Estonia and now we have rallycross as well – this season’s going to be fun!

 

Solberg demonstrated his prowess for the sport’s shorter form when he scored a stunning second overall on his World Rally Car debut at the World Rally Championship’s traditional end of season party, Memorial Bettega event in Italy last December.