Opinion: Oliver Solberg WILL be Kalle Rovanpera’s WRC replacement in 2026
11th October 20252025 WRC2 Drivers’ champion, Oliver Solberg, will be Kalle Rovanpera’s successor at Toyota for the World Rally Championship in 2026 — and here’s why…
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Right, the disclaimer first and foremost; it’s not confirmed that Solberg will be a Toyota driver in 2026.
I have not contacted Toyota, and even if I did they I doubt they would confirm it to just me — a little, 5’ 10’’ (on a good day), independent motorsport journalist — without confirming it to the wider world of motorsport journalism.
Then again… they could… On the basis that they hope nobody believed me.
But that’s too much for them to risk, even if this opinion does come true. But, here’s why Toyota picking up Solberg for a full-time season would be the correct choice in their 2026 line-up.
Rally Estonia
Now, if you had Solberg to get a WRC Rally1 drive on your bingo card for 2025, well done for you. If you had him to win, in his only Rally1 appearance this season, could you please tell me the lottery numbers for next week? For a friend… Obviously.
It could’ve been expected, when the drive was announced, that he had the possibility of winning a stage. I expected at least one stage win to be possible from the Swede.
It was expected that Hyundai’s Ott Tanak would take victory in his home event; you would’ve bet the house on it. Or at least your best set of shoes.
However, the 21-second advantage going into Sunday, and three stages making it a short day, you just had to root for the Toyota driver. Like when Nico Hulkenberg took home his first Formula 1 podium at the 2025 British Grand Prix, just a moment that brightened up the sport.
WRC2 Champion
Like Sami Pajari before him, Pajari took the title in the class just below the Rally1 category in 2024. However, Solberg himself has looked capable in recent seasons, so the WRC2 title felt more like when, rather than if.
Solberg has dominated the season in terms of the WRC2, claiming five wins of seven nominated rounds, to clinch the title with three rounds remaining on the calendar.
Ahead of the final three rounds, where the other title rivals could catch up to Solberg’s finishing total but not overtake, Solberg has claimed 135 points this season. Nine points more than Pajari’s 2024 total, who Solberg trailed by three points that year.
Toyota need a rally winner
Going into 2026, Toyota will be down a rally winner and a world champion.
Even with Rovanpera’s struggles, the Finnish two-time world champion has managed to claim two victories this season so far, including his home event in Finland, resonating with Solberg’s moment in Estonia.
Solberg has proven, even when it was unexpected, that he can fight for podiums and wins in the Toyota Yaris, when he fought established contenders like Tanak and the reigning world champion Thierry Neuville.
With that in mind, why not swap out a WRC champion for another rally champion?
I get it. They have rally winners in Elfyn Evans and Sebastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion.
But, when you can add a proven rally winner into the mix, it can help the team push forward to claim another consecutive title, which looks like a certainty that they will continue to hold onto the title this season.
He should be in Rally1
To me, it looks like a given that Solberg should get the promotion into the premier class of rally driving. Toyota would be silly not to chase after him and give him a seat.
The only reason I believe they won’t will be opting to run a four-car entry across 2026; Evans, Pajari, Takamoto Kasuta and Ogier. But I think it would be foolish for them to opt for this.
It would be like winning the lottery and refusing to collect the jackpot — just because you enjoy playing the game for fun. Why leave the prize on the table?
Read more WRC here:
- World Rally Championship launches ‘spectator safety’ campaign
- Kalle Rovanpera set to leave WRC for circuit racing in 2026
- Hyundai crews contest in national rally ahead of WRC Central European Rally
- Ott Tanak not scoring manufacturer points for remaining 2025 WRC season
- WRC Commission meeting confirms vote for rest periods
- WRC confirms Italy move for 2027 season
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
