Oliver Solberg has described it as awesome to be part of the revival of the iconic Toyota Celica brand in the World Rally Championship for 2027, while also looking ahead after his recent title heartbreak.
Joining the Revived Celica Project
Just over a month after missing out on the world championship when he went off the road two corners from the finish of the final stage, Solberg was named as one of three drivers who will pilot the all-new factory Toyota GR Celica Rally1 car next year. Toyota announced on Tuesday that it is bringing back the Celica brand, which achieved significant success through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, securing back-to-back manufacturers’ crowns in 1993 and 1994, alongside drivers’ titles for Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen, and Didier Auriol.
The Celica will be driven by reigning world champion Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Solberg under the Toyota Racing banner. They will compete alongside a GR Yaris lineup driven by Ott Tanak, Kalle Rovanpera, and Takamoto Katsuta as part of Toyota’s strategy to split an expanded six-car WRC effort into two distinct teams running mechanically identical cars under different body shells. Solberg discovered he would drive the Celica during the car’s launch and noted a personal family connection, as his father made his WRC debut in a Celica in 1998.
Told Autosport about the 2027 strategy, Solberg said, It’s awesome. I think it’s a cool angle. It’s a different way of doing it, which I think is unique for any sport. He added that the approach offers strong marketing potential and praised the concept of young drivers piloting a piece of history, noting that the rivalry among the drivers will be intense and fun.
Recovering from Agonising Defeat
Although looking forward to 2027, Solberg admitted that losing this year’s championship in the final stage in Sardinia still hurts. Reflecting on his debut season in Rally1, however, he expressed pride in raising the profile of the sport through a dramatic title climax that went viral on social media.
He told Autosport, I’m great to be honest. For sure, it still hurts a little bit in my heart, but I mean, I think when you take a step back and look at it all and experience it all afterwards, you’re just very proud of the whole season, of the rollercoaster we had and still be able to fight at the end like that, and never giving up and really trying my very best and showing my potential. He explained that he feels he likely lost the championship earlier in the year rather than just the final 150 metres, and noted that overwhelming global support has helped him move on quickly.
Solberg emphasised that such dramatic moments are vital for building a sport’s popularity and expressed hope that the momentum can be maximised alongside Toyota’s future investment to elevate rallying to a new level. Heading into the 2027 season, he confirmed that his hunger and belief remain strong following the lessons learned throughout the year’s highs and lows.
