Rally Driver Gets Huge Penalty for Illegal Drift

Footage shared on social media reveals the GR Yaris Rally2 braking behind a BMW X3 high-end crossover that was minding its very own company. There’s also a Citroën C3 Rally2 auto attempting to drift, albeit with much less success.

The sideway shenanigans happened in the popular barrette while the 23-year-old Swede was heading back to the garage. Stewards charged him of “exhibition driving” on one of the rally’s road sections throughout the ending of WRC’s inaugural race. Motorsport keeps in mind Solberg has currently apologized for his actions, but he believes he didn’t put any kind of spectators at risk.

Extreme, Solberg’s fine-minute charge doesn’t actually issue since he chose not to complete for WRC2 points. The 2024 WRC2 title runner-up finished the rally event sixth in the Rally2 class and 13th overall. The Monaco Rally was his first competitive trip in the GR Yaris Rally2 after switching over from a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

We typically leave rally insurance coverage to our sis sites, Motorsport and Autosport, however this story was too fascinating to pass up. What started as a five-second drift ended in a five-minute penalty for Oliver Solberg. While going back to parc fermé at the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 motorist pleased the crowds with a tail-happy slide. Sadly, the stewards really did not share the group’s excitement.

“The Stewards examined the case carefully and concluded that a possible unsafe situation was developed as a turn was approached in a ‘wandering’ setting by the driver of auto No. 20 and many individuals were standing up at that turn. Art. 12.18 of the Supplementary Regulations of 93e Rallye Auto Monte-Carlo specifies that event driving is strictly restricted everywhere due to lack of ideal areas. The Stewards, as a result, chose that the driver of auto No. 20 did not appreciate the relevant laws and used those time fine.”

It’s in fact not Solberg’s very first offense of this kind. At the 2023 Rally Portugal, he lost the WRC2 lead after obtaining a one-minute fine for exhibit driving at the end of Saturday’s extremely unique phase. His showboating donuts at the end of Rally Portugal cost him the victory.

While returning to parc fermé at the 2025 Monte Carlo Rally, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 motorist pleased the groups with a tail-happy slide. The 2024 WRC2 title runner-up ended up the rally event sixth in the Rally2 class and 13th overall. The Monaco Rally was his very first competitive trip in the GR Yaris Rally2 after switching from a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.