Oliver Solberg’s bid for the WRC2 Championship has hit a major roadblock after a controversial time adjustment benefitted rival Yohan Rossel during the Rally Chile. Solberg arrived in Chile knowing that a victory would secure his WRC2 title, but after taking the lead, he was struck with a slow puncture on SS11, costing him over a minute and a half as he stopped to change the tire.
Despite finishing fourth in Chile, Solberg’s WRC2 season is now complete, as he has reached the maximum number of points-scoring rallies allowed. This has opened the door for Rossel and Sami Pajari, who each have one more rally to contest, and both stand a strong chance of snatching the championship from Solberg.
However, the outcome of the title race may hinge on a contentious decision during SS11, when Rossel was awarded a notional time adjustment after claiming he was hindered by Solberg’s dust as he resumed the stage following his tire change. Complicating matters, the stage was already plagued by heavy fog, with Rossel momentarily stopping after running wide.
Rossel’s request for an adjusted time was granted, shaving 40 seconds off his stage time. This adjustment has left Solberg furious, with the Škoda driver publicly questioning the fairness of the decision.
Speaking after SS15, Solberg expressed his frustration, stating, “Rossel should not be where he is on the leaderboard.” He implied that the 40-second adjustment was excessive, and claimed that the fog, not dust, was the main issue for Rossel’s performance. “There was no dust when it’s wet, and I pulled away from him pretty quick in the fog. I think he was just slow and is trying to make an excuse.”
Rossel, for his part, defended the time adjustment, arguing that driving close behind another car in foggy conditions was unsafe. “It’s impossible for the security to drive at 20 meters behind the car, and in the fog with dust, you can’t see. For me, the time I was given is fair.”
The stakes are high, as Rossel’s time adjustment has kept him in contention for the WRC2 title. Reflecting on the situation, Rossel added, “I didn’t make any mistakes this weekend. Sometimes you need to be lucky to win, but with a puncture, it’s impossible to win.”
With only one rally left for both Rossel and Pajari, Solberg’s title hopes now hang in the balance, dependent on his rivals’ performances in the final events of the season. However, the controversy surrounding Rossel’s adjusted time may overshadow the outcome, as the WRC2 championship remains wide open.
