​Legendary rally driver Solberg tips son Oliver to impress

Legendary rally driver Peter Solberg has expressed his anticipation of this year’s WRC Safari Rally as he prepares to cheer on his son Oliver Solberg, who will compete in the WRC 2 category.

Oliver Solberg has not missed a single Safari Rally event since the rally returned to the WRC calendar, and his dad, who won the 2003 World Rally Championship, says he’s enlivened by the prospect of watching his son behind the wheel in the sandy and rocky roads of Naivasha.

 “I can’t wait to go down there to follow Oliver (Solberg) and it will be very exciting,” an ecstatic Solberg said as he reminisced about his years of racing.

Oliver will be driving a Toyota GR Yaris and has been doing his pre-event testing in Loldia ahead of the big rev-off on Thursday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

Defending World Champion Thierry Neuville will be looking to make better memories of the Safari after suffering a damaging puncture while in the lead on the last two occasions and is well aware of the punishing nature of the Safari.

“It’s always a tough rally, but other than that the spectators,2 he said.

The drivers will get their first feel of the terrain tomorrow during the shakedown at the Sleeping Warrior stage in Naivasha and then all the cars will head to the capital for the official flag off at the KICC, Nairobi.”

The drivers will then open their competitive action of the Safari in the city at the Kasarani Super Special stage which is one of a kind where two drivers go head-to-head.

In a change of scheduling, drivers then head to the newly introduced Mzabibu stage to complete day one action.

The newly introduced Mzabibu, Camp Moran and Oserengoni stages will spice up this year’s action even as weather forecasters say rain is expected on Friday.

The daunting stages of Kedong, Sleeping Warrior and Hell’s gate have proven hell on earth before for both local and international drivers and a touch of rain will only add to the excitement.