Hyundai looking for improvement in Rally Sweden

Oliver Solberg. FOTO: Hyundai Motorsport

Hyundai Shell Mobis Team struggled in Monte Carlo. Now they hope to improve in Rally Sweden. And for the Swedish youngster, Oliver Solberg, it´s a dream come true competing in Rally Sweden.  

For Oliver Solberg, it will be his debut in Rally Sweden. He grew up with the competition at home in Värmland. But with the rally moved to Umeå, he now has to test his Hyundai in a magical winter landscape in Umeå. Even if, of course, he enter the event mixed emotions.
- You have grown up with Vargåsen and Colin Crest and looked forward to driving there at some point in your life. But now it is as it is, and Umeå has fantastic conditions, and above all, lots of snow and a surface that I enjoy and love to drive on, he says.
The debut in Monte Carlo ended in hospital for him and the co-driver Eliott Edmondson. Exhaust and fuel fumes seeped into the passenger compartment, and the duo was finally forced to break the premiere of this year's WRC.
- We felt terrible in the end, vomited, and finally, we both collapsed and had to go to the hospital. But now I am fit for fight again, states Solberg, who praises the surroundings and the new stretches that Umeå and the surrounding area will offer during the weekend.
- I think it will go fast in some places where we can get up to top speeds of over 200 kilometers per hour. But there are also tricky parts to maneuver through. There are varying distances and good driving we have to look forward to. Power stage (Sarsjöliden) is a favorite, says Solberg.
Thursday's shakedown may give a signal before the competition.
- It has felt good on the tests, but I want to wait and feel how it feels after Thursday. Of course, I dream of a podium place, but it is probably more realistic to be in the top five, says Solberg.

Thierry Neuville was the only driver from Hyundai to finish the Monte Carlo. But he struggled as well and is unsure of what he can achieve in Rally Sweden.
- Realistically, it's going to be tough, but I hope we can fight for a good result.
Neuville agrees with the other WRC driver that it's going to be a very fast rally, with the three special stages at The Red Barn Arena as one of the high lights of the rally.
- The Rally Sweden is very popular for having these stages. It's going to be a good show for sure with plenty of people and a good atmosphere, he says.

Estonian Ott Tänaks is looking for a good result in Sweden after not completing the Monte Carlo, especially to not lose too much track in the overall standing.
- The next two rounds will be quite crucial for me to pick up on the other drivers. The team needs time, and it's hard to change everything overnight, but I'm going to do everything I can to do a good result and score some points, he says.