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Oliver Solberg surges to victory at Rally Sweden: a dramatic night of icy thrills

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
February 13, 2026
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Oliver Solberg surges to victory at Rally Sweden: a dramatic night of icy thrills

Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson compete during Stop 02 of the World Rally Championship in Umea, Sweden on February 12, 2026. // @World / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202602123880 // Usage for editorial use only //

Oliver Solberg Shatters Expectations, Claims Lead at Rally Sweden!

In an electrifying start to Rally Sweden, Oliver Solberg has surged ahead, clinching victory in the opening stage with a stunning time that left even his seasoned Toyota teammate, Elfyn Evans, in his dust. Solberg’s incredible performance on Thursday night’s Umeå stage saw him cross the finish line 3.8 seconds faster than Evans, showcasing his skill and determination as he aims for the top of the championship standings.

The event kicked off under the cloak of darkness, with the Umeå stage – a fan-favorite that includes the exhilarating Red Barn Arena – setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling competition. This initial test will also serve as the power stage on Sunday, adding an extra layer of excitement as drivers vie for crucial points.

Elfyn Evans, who trails Solberg by a mere four points in the championship standings, admitted to a “conservative start” but still managed to secure a respectable second place. Meanwhile, Takamoto Katsuta finished the stage 4.4 seconds behind the leader, lamenting the icy conditions that mirrored last year’s challenges. “The stage is pure ice, same as last year,” he said, expressing hope that tomorrow’s stage would bring a different experience.

However, not all competitors were as fortunate as Solberg and Evans. Jon Armstrong faced an early setback, becoming the first driver to falter in this year’s Rally Sweden. Misjudging his brakes, the M-Sport driver scraped against the snow, narrowly avoiding a more serious mishap. “Really lucky not to get stuck,” Armstrong reflected after losing 45.1 seconds due to the incident. “It was a difficult stage to read the grip… but at least we’re still here.”

As the leaderboard unfolded, Toyota drivers dominated, with Sami Pajari completing a commendable 1-2-3-4 lineup for the team. Meanwhile, the Hyundai drivers, led by Thierry Neuville in sixth place, displayed resilience, trailing by 6.7 seconds. Neuville shared, “I was just following my feeling… I’m braking super, super early all the time but I just don’t know if the car will stop or not.”

Amidst the fierce competition, Adrien Fourmaux and Esapekka Lappi also put up strong performances, finishing just behind the leading Hyundai. Josh McErlean, despite battling poor visibility due to a fogged-up windscreen, emerged as the fastest M-Sport driver, albeit 15.7 seconds off the lead pace. His teammate Mãrtiņš Sesks wasn’t far behind, clocking in 2.5 seconds slower.

As Rally Sweden heats up, all eyes will be on Solberg to see if he can maintain his lead against an onslaught of talented challengers. With the stakes higher than ever, the battle for supremacy in the snow-covered tracks of Umeå promises to deliver edge-of-your-seat action for fans and drivers alike!

Tags: 100-acre-wood-rally2025-toyota-usa-track-and-field-championshipsElfyn Evansfim-sportbike-world-championshiphyundai-bossoliver-solbergsRally Swedentakamoto-katsutas
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