Peter Solberg Initiates Talk Among Top WRC Drivers and Co-Drivers: Positive Feedback and Plans for a Better Future

Photo: Petter Solberg

And the talks have begun, initiated by one of the sport’s greatest exponents, former RX and WRC World Champion Peter Solberg, last week ahead of the Sardinia WRC Rally. While serving on the FIA ​​Drivers’ Commission, Solberg initiated a much-needed exchange of views between the WRC’s top-level drivers and co-drivers in Sardinia.

After the discussions, there was nothing but praise for the process. Vice President of the Commission Peter Solberg’s for the portal DirtFish revealed that “We will work internally with good communication and vision from the drivers’ side. After my entry into the steering committee I wanted to listen to the WRC crews to know their feelings in general. We discussed everything, it was a very open meeting where we got a lot of good feedback from both WRC, and for the invited WRC2 crews.”

Photo: Honza Froněk

“After the meeting, I am preparing an email where I invite all riders and drivers to send their opinion on where we are and their vision for the future. Together we can improve the sport we all love, but the key here is communication, reaction and action .”

This positivity was also reflected by the pilots. For example, a Hyundai driver Esapeka Lapland said, “We had some good ideas that were being thrown around. Some of them we should react to more quickly, some of them maybe not so quickly. But yeah, there were definitely some good ideas.”

Elfins Evans agreed with Lapi’s words and stressed the need to move forward after this initial meeting. “The meeting was good,” says the Welshman. “We’ve never had anything like this before, so it’s good that at least Peter has taken the initiative and made an effort to make it happen. What’s really interesting, and I think what’s important, is what’s going to happen next. It’s good, that there is a positive meeting with many, let’s say, positive ideas, but the main question is how we move it forward.”

Photo: Vladislav Maschl

“I wouldn’t say I have any great ideas that I want to shout from the podium, but I have a list of things that I think are pretty bad right now. So I think we should start addressing those issues instead of reinventing the wheel.”

The discussion process will continue with a remote meeting this Wednesday, when all involved will continue to discuss the future of the WRC with the organizers of the World Rally Championship.