With Kalle Rovanperä preparing to leave the World Rally Championship at the end of the season, speculation is heating up about who will take over his seat at Toyota. One name keeps coming up: Oliver Solberg.
The 24-year-old Swede, who’s been making waves in WRC2, seems to be the most logical successor to Rovanperä — and he’s not hiding the fact that talks are happening.
Solberg’s Rise and a Season to Remember
Solberg, just a year younger than Rovanperä, has had an impressive 2025 season. His breakthrough moment came at Rally Estonia in July, where he stepped into Toyota’s Rally1 car for the first time and immediately took the win.
That performance, along with clinching the WRC2 title after Rally Chile, confirmed that Solberg’s hard work rebuilding his career is paying off. His maturity and consistency have made him one of the most talked-about young talents in rallying.
“Let’s See What Happens”
When asked about the possibility of joining Toyota full-time next year, Solberg kept things open-ended but hopeful.
“Let’s see what happens. I hope to get some opportunity, wherever it is, for next year, to have a full seat somewhere. And that’s the dream,” he told the media.
Pressed on whether he expects to remain under the Toyota umbrella, he smiled:
“I hope so, yeah, I hope so.”
And yes — negotiations are already in motion.
“Of course there is. I have negotiations with everybody – you try to keep in contact and try to have all the doors open and see what is possible.”
Respect for Rovanperä’s New Direction
Solberg also praised Kalle Rovanperä’s bold career move. The Finnish driver shocked the rally world when he announced plans to switch to circuit racing next season, beginning a new chapter in Japan’s Super Formula series with hopes of eventually reaching Formula One.
“He’s only 25. So if you can do that, why not go for it? He can come back later to rally. But in Formula One, in ten years, he can’t try it,” Solberg said.
Still, the Swede admits that the track life isn’t for him.
“I will never do something like that. I like rally, it’s fun and you have a lot of new things all the time. I’ve been trying some racing sometimes. I just hate that it’s the same thing over and over again.”
Eyes on Japan and Beyond
The final round of the World Rally Championship takes place next week in Japan, and Toyota is widely expected to reveal its 2026 driver line-up shortly after the event.
