Sweden’s Oliver Solberg won his very first stage at the World Rally Championship (WRC) on Friday as he stormed into the lead at Rally Estonia alongside British co-driver Elliott Edmondson.
Solberg made an immediate statement by taking Friday's opening stage and never looked back as he opened a 12.4 seconds lead over Estonia's Ott Tanak.
"To be leading the rally and to have won a few stages, and to have this amazing feeling in the car - this day has been all about fun," said Solberg, who returned to the WRC’s top tier for the first time since 2022.
"I don't know what to say - It's just been the best day of my life."
"Best day of my life" 🥹
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) July 18, 2025
Your leaders overnight 👏#WRC | #RallyEstonia 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/4dzO0OTkIr
Solberg demonstrated competitive pace, finishing 0.2 seconds behind winner Tanak in stage three, before claiming victory in the second pass through Peipsiaare by 2.8 seconds ahead of Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera.
The 23-year-old Swede narrowly missed out on winning stage five, trailing Tanak by 0.9 seconds.
"It's just so loose and (there's) no grip whatsoever. I did everything I could (but) it is as it is at the moment," Tanak said as thousands of home fans cheered him on through the Estonian forests.
The rally continues on Saturday.
Leaders overnight 👀#WRC | #RallyEstonia 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/C1GZPINKI1
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) July 18, 2025