Oliver Solberg crashes out in Japan, Ogier: it was no surprise

On the second day of competition at the Japan World Rally Championship, Oliver Solberg hit a post on the 10th special stage and retired. His teammate Sébastien Ogier said the Swedish driver was taking too many risks.

Drama continued at the Japan World Rally Championship on Saturday when Toyota driver Oliver Solberg went off the track on the 10th special stage and crashed into a post, forcing him to retire from the rally. Solberg was at that moment chasing his teammate Elfyn Evans, who was leading the stage and also drives for Toyota.

Solberg's teammate Sébastien Ogier made no secret after the stage that the Swede's retirement came as no surprise. "He was driving on the edge of the limit all day, so it was no surprise," said the experienced Frenchman. Ogier pointed out that Solberg's overly aggressive attempts to close the gap on Evans inevitably carried great risk of error.

Solberg's exit significantly changed the course of the rally and strengthened Evans's position ahead of his competitors. The Japan rally is one of the final rounds of the World Championship season, making the results especially consequential.