WRC driver Oliver Solberg wants to put Formula 1 driver Lando Norris in a rally car – McLaren driver wants to try rallying
Lando Norris is interested in trying out rallying one day. Promptly after the statement comes the first invitation from Oliver Solberg, who has made it to the top category of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in his career. The son of former WRC champion Petter Solberg wants to make it possible for the Briton to fulfil his dream.
Norris has fought his way through Formula racing in Great Britain and has also impressed in the international junior classes. That’s why the 22-year-old has now been in the McLaren cockpit of the premier class for four years. Before the race weekend in legendary Spa-Francorchamps, he is currently in seventh place in the overall standings with 76 points.
Only last week Norris revealed in an interview that rallying had taken a fancy to him and that he would therefore like to test a car one day. The echo followed just a few days later, as Solberg, with his family in Sweden, has several options to put the Briton in a rally car.
Sufficient options for Norris
“If he wants to come to our farm in Sweden, we have a lot of rally cars there that he is welcome to try out,” said the son of the 2003 WRC champion. “I can send him a message on Monday and ask if he wants to come and test a car. He is a great driver and super talented. I’m sure he would look good in a rally car as well. “
However, Solberg wants something in return: a test in a Formula 1 car – even if he made the demand with a broad grin on his lips. However, Solberg is not alone in this: M-Sport also has the opportunity to fulfil Norris’ wish. The 22-year-old has already visited the racing team’s base in Great Britain.
Team boss Richard Millener says: “Unfortunately I wasn’t working when Lando visited us, because I would have loved to meet him. Some people who worked for us but are now at McLaren told us how excited he was after the day. There was no opportunity at the time, but if he wants to give it a go, that would be great for the team. “
In the footsteps of other Formula 1 drivers
“He seems like a humorous, outgoing guy, so who knows,” the M-Sport string-puller continued. “It’s always nice to get something like that going.” Norris would be following in the footsteps of some well-known Formula One drivers. Valtteri Bottas has already taken part in the Artic Rally in Finland and Kimi Raikkonen has also tried his hand at rallying during his Formula 1 break.
Alfa Romeo reserve driver Robert Kubica also raced rallies, but was seriously injured in a crash in 2011. He won the WRC2 classification in 2013 when he took a break from the premier class. Most recently, ex-Formula 1 driver and father of world champion Max Verstappen, Jos Verstappen, competed in the WRC2 class at the Ypres Rally in Belgium.
