Full Q&A with Beatrix
How did you get involved in racing?
I’m a new driver, however, I was involved in all angles of rally. I was so fortunate I was born into a really cool family, my parents did stage rally even before they had me. Rally has always been a family thing for us, it has become part of our everyday life. As kids, we were present at most of my parents' races. My dad drove, my mom was his co-driver. I can tell our childhood was very exciting, full of great memories and lots of rally action. My parents had a rally team and we had a few drivers and co-drivers in our team.

Where did it all start for you? Tell me your story.
It was an honor for me when dad took the car out for a spin and asked me if I wanted to go with him. To see my parents' dedication to the sport and see them putting in all their free time and working long hours just to be able to compete in an event, it just made me wonder: Why are they doing all that work? Is it worth it?

What does it feel like being in a rally car and competing?
I knew I would like to do this one day! Before I got my driver license, I had a chance to work with the organizers on the local rally events. I had to take a class and it was a paid gig . I was participating in different stations, that was an awesome learning ability for me, another exciting angle of this sport, great opportunity to learn all the rules. It gives you a better understanding of the Rally as a whole.

In 1997 I had a chance to co drive in a Peugeot 205 1.4 GT. We had a few events together with my driver. We had a 3rd place, and a 6th place in the category that was most memorable. We rolled the car at our first event, but we managed to finish the race. In the same year I was also invited to co drive in a Ford Escort, we had an absolute 1st place in my home town in winter time, this was pretty cool.I also co drove for my dad in a Peugeot 205 1.9 and my brother in a Peugeot 106, where we were one of the 0’s cars. My last co-driver experience was just this year at Sandblast Rally. After 25 years I got back to the Right seat in a 2017 STI with my husband. It was a special race for us, because this was our first stage rally in the USA. I co drove 9 rallies between 6 different drivers in the past.

What kind of racing do you do?
RallyCross. I just competed in my first stage rally in the US as a co-driver for my husband Zoltan.

Do you participate in any series?
We participate in SCCA RallyCross and also at the Firm in Rally X.

How many races have you done as a driver?
I drove 12 races including SCCA RallyCross and Rally X series at The Firm.

How many races as a co-driver?
I co drove 9 rallies between 6 different drivers in the past.

What do you like most about driving?
Driving can be very rewarding, especially when I am able to drive the way I plan to do. I’m still learning, and sometimes it doesn’t always go as planned, but when it does I’m very pleased.

What do you like most about co-driving?
Co-driving is challenging, because as a co-driver we have to meet our drivers demands. We have to understand their driving and also we need to get to know the person. Everyone has different needs and forms of getting information, and as a co driver we have to adapt to this fairly quickly.

What is your personal best accomplishment?
My mom was visiting us from Hungary. Blue, my car was still in the process of caging, and I wouldn’t miss out on a Firm event, so we had to modify our track Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (Baby Hulk) so I can drive. This was the first time my mom was able to sit next to me, and she loved it. To me this is a big accomplishment. We were able to grab second place in Group A at this event.

Have you received any notable finishes?
Last year achievements for me: Rally X series at The Firm, two second place and a third place in Group A. Rally Cross points championship 2021 3rd place.

Oftentimes you are the only female driving/competing. What is that experience like for you?
The community is very welcoming and encouraging, it’s great to be out there. This is a great opportunity to learn, be a better driver, and hang out with the coolest people.

What does being a woman in motorsport mean to you?
This is a great sport for anyone to compete in with the same possibilities.

What have some of your biggest challenges been?
We are taking the kids with us to every event and sometimes it’s challenging to fill in every shoe; be there as a mom, be there as a wife, and help with the car if needed, but also focus on my own driving. I don’t mind the extra work, I love doing what we do and it’s totally worth it
---------------------------------------------


Who or what has inspired you?
I have a lot of inspirations from my family, my husband and my awesome American rally friends; Mattea Freeman, Ken Haun, RalyGrl, and Amy Ebert from SCCA RallyCross, just to name a few.

What are your plans/dreams/goals for racing?
My big goal for racing is to be able to drive on a stage rally here in the USA with my mom being my co-driver.

What advice would you give to another female interested in racing?
Just do it. Don’t overthink it, just go for it, be positive and never be afraid to ask for help or advice.

Why/what do you love about your car?
I love how nimble the car is, my seat, my steering wheel and overall driving position is excellent for me. I’m really enjoying all the little upgrades we do to the car, for example a steering quickener, it’s so nice on the tight technical courses. I have a hydraulic handbrake, which was new for me. I am being more friendly with it. Also the exhaust, I just love how loud it is.

What is your car’s story?
We discovered Blue in 2020 September, she was kept in a barn for a couple years before we got her. It was in a front end collision. We bought a donor car to fix Blue’s front end. My husband is the one who did all the body work on the car, then we dropped it off at Higher Ground to replace the head gaskets.

How involved are you when it comes to maintaining and preparing your car for events?
At the beginning I wasn’t involved much in the preparation process, until we did the first SCCA Test & Tune, and I got to drive the car for the first time. I fell in love with her, and I was ready to learn more about Blue. My favorite thing is cleaning the race cars after every event.

Why come to The FIRM?
I fell in love with it, that’s my happy place. We came back for more SCCA rallycross, The FIRM RallyX series and to watch the NRX event at the end of the year. I also participated in my first Open Track Day at The Firm last year with our track car.

What brought you to The FIRM in the first place?
First time I was at The Firm in 2021 February of 2021 at a SCCA event.

Have you taken any of our classes? If so, what did you think? If not, would you?
In July of 2021 I also took a class there with Bryn. I never thought I could learn so much in a couple of hours. He is an excellent instructor, he can answer all the questions and have you understand why we do certain things behind the wheel.

 

RallyCross National Championship returning to Colorado

Rupert Berrington
share
tweet
emailBy SCCA | May 3, 2022 12:46 PM ET

The date and location for the 2022 SCCA RallyCross National Championship has been locked in, with RallyCrossers from across the nation now set to converge on Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, CO, on Sept. 23-25.

Jointly hosted by members of the Colorado and Continental Divide Regions, the Colorado RallyCross group will bring the National Championship event back to Colorado. The last time the RallyCross National Championship took place in Colorado was 2009-10, when the National Championship was hosted at the U.S. Truck Driving School, just five miles south of Pikes Peak International Raceway.

“We’re incredibly happy to be returning to Colorado for the 2022 SCCA RallyCross National Championship after more than a decade away,” said RallyCross Board chairman Kent Hamilton on behalf of the Board. “We would also like to thank the crew at Colorado RallyCross for their hard work and dedication that will make this year’s RallyCross National Championship a can’t-miss event.”

Competitors hoping to gain a “home field” advantage should keep an eye on the Colorado RallyCross website, as the group will be hosting events at Pike Peak International Raceway multiple times this season in order to build experience with the site and maintain a good competition surface.

The 2022 Colorado RallyCross schedule can be found here.

Of note is that there will not be any RallyCross National Tour events for 2022. The RallyCross Board will spend the remainder of this year with their feet on the desk preparing for the 2022 RallyCross National Championship title event while retooling the RallyCross National Tour program for 2023 and beyond. Suggestions and feedback regarding the National RallyCross program can be emailed to rxb@scca.com.

 

It's RALLY worth it! Rally Courses at The FIRM
Take a break from the heat and enjoy a class in one of our air conditioned rally cars. Enhance your driving skills, learn how to slide around effectively in a handbrake turn, utilize left-foot braking and understand the infamous “Scandinavian Flick” (pendulum turn). Choose from 1/2 day to full 5 day experiences tailored to your rally needs.

Don't delay, book your experience today!
Book Now


TT & Rally-X Results

RALLY-X: ROUND 2 RESULTS
What a great day for a Rally-X. It was a little warm, a little dusty, but everyone got loads of seat time! Congrats to EVERYONE - even those that may have come up a few laps short!

Group A
1st Place - Cliff Huff
2nd Place - Chad Huff
3rd Place - Carlos Perez

Group B
1st Place - Alan Rodriguez
2nd Place - Zoltan Hajdu
3rd Place - Emmons Hathaway

Group C
1st Place - Tom Ebert
2nd Place - Justin Nordin
3rd Place - Graham Partain

Group D
1st Place - Anthony Suprenant
2nd Place - Timothy Moss
3rd Place - Justin Moss TIME TRIALS CURRENT STANDINGS
It was another successful event! With everyone hanging out for Cars & Coffee, having on site vendors and good weather, we put down some of our best laps yet! Thanks to Labyrinth for organizing another great C&C event!

TT1
1st Place - Carl Otradovec 1:15.989
2nd Place - Jeff Matthews 1:18.594
3rd Place - Brock Parslow 1:19.490

TT2
1st Place - JG Pasterjack 1:13.743
2nd Place - Brian Rosati 1:13.791
3rd Place - Chris Tedder 1:14.286

TT3
1st Place - Sandeep Pillarsetty 1:15.170
2nd Place - Stephen Smith 1:18.234
3rd Place - Jason Langieri 1:19.577

TT4
1st Place - John Van Buskirk 1:15.866

TT5
1st Place - Neil Desai 1:19.057
2nd Place - Frederick Harris II 1:20.010



Have a Story from The FIRM?
We want to hear it too!
amanda@gorally.com?subject=My%20Expe...20 The%20FIRM

Upcoming Events

OPEN TRACK DAYS
Friday 13th
Friday 20th
Saturday 21st
Sunday 22nd
Friday 27th
Saturday 28th
Sunday 29th

SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday 14th SCCA Time Trials/Track Event
Sunday 15th SCCA Autocross
Saturday 21st SCCA Rallycross


Register HERE

THE DRIVERS CLUB

Become a drivers club member today and start enjoying members only exclusive benefits, discounts and track time!


GET MORE DETAILS

 

Rovanpera extends winning streak with WRC Rally Portugal victory

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
share
tweet
emailBy RACER Staff | May 22, 2022 11:06 AM ET

Kalle Rovanpera claimed his third FIA World Rally Championship victory in as many events on Rally Portugal, the Toyota ace open a commanding lead in the WRC points standings.

The 21-year-old Finn had demoted long-time leader and Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Elfyn Evans late in Saturday’s second leg, then extended his slender advantage over Sunday’s five special stages to win by 15.2s. His victory on the WRC season’s first gravel rally comes after wins on the snow of Sweden and asphalt of Croatia.

It was a result that hadn’t looked likely heading into Friday’s opening leg. As the WRC points leader, Rovanpera was starting first on the challenging gravel and sand special stages in his GR Yaris Rally 1 — effectively, a road sweeper for the later-starting cars — yet still finished the first day in second overall.

On the second leg, he blitzed early leader Evans on Saturday afternoon, got lucky with the timing of a downpour in the day’s penultimate stage, and took a 5.7s lead into Sunday that he duly extended with four special stage wins out of five.

Fastest time on the rally-closing Fafe powerstage gave him a second perfect score of 30 points and extends his championship lead to 46 points over Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville in second.

“At the moment it seems we are on a really good drive,” said Rovanpera. “Starting first here and to fight for the win like this, it was really nice. We saw a lot of issues and tough conditions this weekend and our car was perfect as always, so everybody can be really happy.”
Rovanpera celebrates with co-driver Jonne Halttunen. Image by Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

After the turnaround of Saturday afternoon, Evans had no answer to Rovanpera’s continuing pace on Sunday’s final leg. The Welshman started the final stage nine seconds adrift of Rovanpera, but lost another 6.1s by with a time good enough for only fifth and a single Power Stage point. When she holds up that finger, it means she's keeping me up all night yelling Give me the big Gazoo one more time!

After a star-crossed start to the season, it was always a case of risk vs. reward for Evans on the final day, so the positive he takes away from second and his best result of the season is a 21-point haul to put some life and hope into his campaign.

“We definitely needed a result, that’s for sure,” he admitted. “Of course, we’re disappointed with the outcome of today, but I take my hat off to Kalle. From my side it’s nice to be back on the podium and we should be able to build from here.”
Evans had to yield to his teammate once again, but focused on the positive after completing a 1-2. Image by Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Evans finished 2m02.1s clear of Dani Sordo’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1. A long-running battle for the final podium place went right down to the wire, with the Spaniard stealing third place away from Toyota development driver Takamoto Katsuta on the final Fafe test.

Sordo had started the stage with a 2.2s deficit to make up to the GR Yaris driver, but did more than enough in beating his rival by 4.3s. Not that the Hyundai man was particularly ecstatic with the final podium place…

“It’s not a real third position,” he mused. “We were not so quick on the stages all weekend, so I’m a little bit disappointed. If we can finish third, fourth, it’s nice, but I want to be on the pace all the time.”

 

Sordo was unimpressed with his overall pace, despite placing third for Hyundai. Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

Behind the fourth-placed Katsuta, Hyundai duo Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak finished fifth and sixth after a rally that promised much at times, but turned into a frustrating list of “what ifs?” Nevertheless, Neuville keeps his second in the WRC points.

Despite brake issues, Pierre-Louis Loubet was best of the M-Sport Fords in the seventh spot, ahead of his fellow Puma Rally1 drivers, Craig Breen and Adrien Fourmaux. Breen had come to Portugal holding third in points, but it was a rally that never quite got going for the Irishman and brake problems on the final day cost him a sixth-place finish, dropping him to sixth in WRC points.
Loubet led the way in a quiet weekend for the Ford contingent with seventh place. Image by M-Sport

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, last-minute drama saw Frenchman Yohan Rossel grab a second consecutive class win in his PH Sport Citroen C3. The reigning WRC3 champ had been trailing long-time leader and near-certain victor Teemu Suninen by almost a minute, until the Finn slid his Hyundai i20N off the road just a few hundred yards into the final Power Stage and remained beached.

Rossel, who also took WRC2 honors on last month’s Croatia Rally, finished 1m12.1s ahead of Poland’s Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Skoda Fabia Evo), with Brit Chris Ingram completing the podium in his Skoda.

“It’s just a shame for Teemu and I’m sorry for what happened to him,” said a shocked Rossel. “Honestly, second place would have been a good result for us, but now we have a win.”
Rossel was not the pace-setter this time in WRC2, but still wound up in front at the end. Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

Next up, drivers face more hot weather and rough roads as the WRC moves to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia next month. Rally Italia Sardegna, based in Alghero, runs June 2-5.

 

Sordo was unimpressed with his overall pace, despite placing third for Hyundai. Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

Behind the fourth-placed Katsuta, Hyundai duo Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak finished fifth and sixth after a rally that promised much at times, but turned into a frustrating list of “what ifs?” Nevertheless, Neuville keeps his second in the WRC points.

Despite brake issues, Pierre-Louis Loubet was best of the M-Sport Fords in the seventh spot, ahead of his fellow Puma Rally1 drivers, Craig Breen and Adrien Fourmaux. Breen had come to Portugal holding third in points, but it was a rally that never quite got going for the Irishman and brake problems on the final day cost him a sixth-place finish, dropping him to sixth in WRC points.
Loubet led the way in a quiet weekend for the Ford contingent with seventh place. Image by M-Sport

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, last-minute drama saw Frenchman Yohan Rossel grab a second consecutive class win in his PH Sport Citroen C3. The reigning WRC3 champ had been trailing long-time leader and near-certain victor Teemu Suninen by almost a minute, until the Finn slid his Hyundai i20N off the road just a few hundred yards into the final Power Stage and remained beached.

Rossel, who also took WRC2 honors on last month’s Croatia Rally, finished 1m12.1s ahead of Poland’s Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Skoda Fabia Evo), with Brit Chris Ingram completing the podium in his Skoda.

“It’s just a shame for Teemu and I’m sorry for what happened to him,” said a shocked Rossel. “Honestly, second place would have been a good result for us, but now we have a win.”
Rossel was not the pace-setter this time in WRC2, but still wound up in front at the end. Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

Next up, drivers face more hot weather and rough roads as the WRC moves to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia next month. Rally Italia Sardegna, based in Alghero, runs June 2-5.

 

Women of The FIRM:
Amy Ebert & The
Toothless Rally Dragon


Read the Whole Blog HERE




THE DRIVER
Name- Amy Ebert
Age- 37
Racing Number- 21
Affiliation (if team)- Hidden World Racing
Sponsor(s): Tunewerks
Hometown- Plymouth, MN
Occupation- Safety Engineer
Years competing- 5
Rallycross Debut: 2018
Notable Finishes: 1st place Prepared Front (PF) in 2018 & 2019, 2nd place PF in 2020 & 2021, 2nd place PF at the 2018 DirtFish Dixie National Challenge, and RallyCross Worker of the Year award in 2021.



The Car- "Toothless"

VEHICLE SPECS

Year/Make/Model: 2015 Ford Fiesta ST
Nickname and reason behind the nickname(if applicable): The car’s name is Toothless - I found him for sale online as a wreck, waiting for rework at a body shop; he’d been rear-ended, but was otherwise intact. An all black car, quiet but agile, with “tail” damage; that matches the description of the main dragon character in the movie “How to Train Your Dragon”, so my husband and I decided to name him after that dragon: Toothless. We bought him, fixed him up, got him ‘flying’ again, and are constantly tweaking things to make him better, faster, stronger.

 

Racing class: Modified Front (SCCA Rallycross); Group C (FIRM Rally-X)
Custom bodywork and/or paint: Toothless has a red front fender; it’s the only part of the car that didn't come with him when we bought him. The cheap, unpainted replacement fender we bought faded within a week, so it’s wrapped in red vinyl to match the tail prosthetic Toothless has in the HTTYD movies.
What engine is in the car? 1.6L 4cylinder turbo
Engine modifications and/or power adders? 2JR Cowl Induction intake, Whoosh Intercooler, Tunewerks custom tune (sponsored)
Cooling setup: Mountune Triple-pass Radiator (necessary for racing in FL) filled with EVANS NPG Waterless Engine Coolant, custom-wired stock fan – on full blast all the time; hood vents coming soon!
Horsepower and torque: I’ve never dyno’d Toothless, that’s still on the to-do list. Tunewerks, who supplied our custom tune, estimates that Toothless is making 204 WHP / 270 WTQ.
Transmission: 6-speed manual (no automatics in our garage!)
Front and rear axle: limited slip diff by M Factory
Suspension: Bilstein B6 heavy duty shocks, stock springs, Pierce Motorsports: upper front strut brace, lower chassis brace, trunk brace
Brake setup: Hawk DTC-60 pads in stock calipers
Wheels & Tires, brands and sizes:
Street set: 15” Methods wrapped in Extreme Contact DW
Track set: 17” Stock “snowflakes” wrapped in General G-Max All-season 3s (not recommended for track use more than once)
Rally set: 15” Sparco Pista wrapped in Federal G-10 gravel rally tires
Future Goals for the car: Near-term, we plan to finish installing hood vents and maybe swap the ST knuckles for base-model Fiesta knuckles to raise the car a little. Long-term, we hope to eventually build up to a full cage, race seats, harnesses, the whole stage rally set-up!



Full Q&A with Amy

How did you get involved in racing?
After years of supporting my husband’s endeavors (pursuing a PhD), I told him it was time for him to support mine; and lucky him, I wanted to rally race!

Where did it all start for you? Tell me your story.
I was my dad’s go-to grease monkey/assistant. Out of the 4 kids they had, I was the one always helping him in the garage, always wanting to go to the car shows, always excited to see races. I’ve always been into cars and thought I’d pursue a job in the auto industry; maybe an engineer or a car magazine contributor. To make sure I hit my goal, I aimed high: I got a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I ended up hitting high too, working for the Shuttle Program right out of college. Although I don’t work in the auto industry, I have a good job that supports my automotive hobby: rally racing.

What kind of racing do you do?
I prefer the challenge of off-road racing, where engine (and wallet) size doesn’t matter as much as skill and heart. I spend most of my racing time with SCCA Rallycross. It’s a great program and the cheapest way to get into motorsport. I also race in the FIRM’s Rally-X series. For both, I have to share my car with my husband. I figure it’s only fair since he’s also my mechanic, roadie, and cheering squad.

Do you participate in any series?
Outside of SCCA and the FIRM, I haven’t pursued any national level stage rally series entries. Yet. Need to get the car outfitted first.

How many races have you done as a driver?
I’m in my 5th season of SCCA Rallycross, about 10 events each year, so I’ll be hitting a milestone of my 50th competition racing event sometime this year.

What do you like most about driving?
I like the challenge. I like taking the skills I’ve learned and being able to apply them and see the improvements in my times. I like that driving has given me motivation to stick with my workouts, because sometimes it’s just brute force that keeps the car going in the direction you’re steering it! I hate roller coasters, but I love driving.

What is your personal best accomplishment?
I like to celebrate everything. Even the little things seem like big accomplishments to me. But recent accomplishments: I’d have to say there are two I’m proud of: 1) my successful stint as Rally Instructor and 2) the final race of last year’s SCCA Rallycross season coincided with another family obligation; my husband tended to the obligation and our kids while I went racing. I drove to the race, swapped tires, competed, and worked without relying on anyone else. It was a great opportunity to prove to myself: I can do this. I am doing this. And I ROCK at it!

 

Have you received any notable finishes?
In SCCA Rallycross, there is a season points trophy; competing in at least 3 events in the same class qualifies you for it, but you’ve also got to be in the top 3 fastest in class at as many events as you can attend to earn it. During one of my recent seasons, a direct competitor and I were trading 1st and 2nd place finishes at events all year long. It all came down to the final event. He’s a couple decades my senior, and has the racing seat-time to prove it. At the final event, I was faster, earning 1st place. But he wasn’t slow enough. He still had enough points to win the season championship, but only just. He won the season by 1 point. It was a GREAT season, with many in the club watching our points race (not just those in our competition class). The camaraderie and sportsmanship during that season reaffirmed my decision to race in rally.

What awards have you received over the years?
I've received 1st in class at many SCCA Rallycross events over the years. They've lead to multiple season podiums and other awards: 1st place Prepared Front (PF) in 2018 & 2019, 2nd place PF in 2020 & 2021,
2nd place PF at the 2018 DirtFish Dixie National Challenge, and RallyCross Worker of the Year award in 2021.

What has been your best finish to date?
I count the 2nd place finish at the Dixie National Challenge in 2018 my best finish since it included drivers from all over America's Southeast.

Oftentimes you are the only female driving/competing. What is that experience like for you?
I’ve always been comfortable around male friends. I survived 4 years of college at an engineering school getting an engineering degree (a field historically VERY male). Racing doesn’t feel any different from that aspect. What I do love is being an encouragement for any new female faces who give it a try. I also love showing young girls that being a racecar driver is something any woman can do! The best way to encourage the next generation is to show them that it’s possible.

What does being a woman in motorsport mean to you?
For me, being a woman sometimes means I feel like I need to push harder to prove myself; that doesn’t always have a good outcome when you’re already pushing the envelope. It sometimes means I’m under more scrutiny, but more often than not, it means that I can be a beacon of opportunity for other women or girls who would like to get into motorsports. I do it because it’s fun, I continue through adversity because it’s important to show the next generation that anything is possible.

What have some of your biggest challenges been?
Usually my biggest challenge is myself: my own doubt, my own skill, and my own self-preservation instinct. I tend to get off the gas sooner than I need to. I tend to downplay my ability because so much of it is instinct that I cannot always overcome. But training and practice are getting me closer to being the best I can be.

Who or what has inspired you?
Every woman competing in stage rally or the Rebelle Rally is inspiring. Every woman behind the wheel of a competition vehicle is inspiring. Every little girl I see at car shows or racing events is inspiring. Some inspire me to do better for myself, others inspire me to do better for them. But if I had to name names, Mattea Freeman (who’s been featured here before), Abbey Callaway (RallyGirlRacing/Photography) and “the Sams” who are all part of the CFR SCCA Rallycross program and helped welcome us into that family.

What are your plans/dreams/goals for racing?
I just want to keep enjoying it. Ultimately, that’s it, that’s my goal. When it’s no longer fun, or when it starts stealing fun from other aspects of my life (if I have to miss milestones in my childrens’ lives for races), then I’ll know that the balance is out of whack. My plan is to eventually drive/co-drive in a national stage rally, but I know that plans must be dynamic if they’re going to survive to fruition. And plans that are broken up into smaller, achievable parts are much more likely to succeed. So for now: the plan is to get Toothless ready for the next race, pick out the next upgrade, and make sure the family calendar has room for all the fun I can cram in there!

What advice would you give to another female interested in racing?
Go for it! Bring a friend for support and go for it. Find a sanctioned organization, pick a date, and make yourself go. Go with the expectation that you’ll be challenged, you’ll learn, and you’ll have as much fun as you allow. Optimism and the ability to ignore naysayers will get you far in racing and in life.

THE CAR:
Why/what do you love about your car?
I love that rally racing is the reason Toothless has this whole new life as a racecar. It’s such a unique thing to say when someone asks what your hobbies include: “I race my daily driver in the dirt.” Working on Toothless has been a great learning experience and wonderful bonding opportunity for me & my spouse. We enjoy our time in the garage together, installing upgrades or debating over how to spend our car budget. Having this car in particular has been a great conversation starter and a great way to show folks, especially women, young and old that they can race too! Toothless is very approachable because he’s quiet, small, and named after a beloved cartoon creature; it’s so fun to see kids’ faces light up when I explain his name and that he’s a racecar! He’s not intimidating, but can still give you a run for your money.

What is your car’s story?
Toothless is an all-around badass. I take him to SCCA Rallycross events, the FIRM’s RallyX events, car shows, private track days at the FIRM, and daily driving. For more than 3 years, my husband and I would drive him to the SCCA Rallycross event, swap to rally tires, race, then swap tires again back to street tires and drive home. In all those races, he only needed a trailer ride home once: he had broken the seal on an axle as a result of breaking a motor mount.
As we’ve done more upgrades, he’s become louder and less comfortable for long-haul driving, so he is spending more time with 4 wheels on the trailer instead of on the road, being carried to and from races instead of driven there and back. But he’s still my daily driver.

How involved are you when it comes to maintaining and preparing your car for events?
I enjoy being in a support role for most maintenance and upgrades. My husband is my mechanic but I help any chance I get.

THE FIRM:
You recently taught at The FIRM. Can you tell me about that experience?
Teaching at the FIRM is a dream job. It’s spending time doing what I love: driving, encouraging others to go outside their comfort zone, and hanging out with cool people. I enjoy the staff at the FIRM and working with them was excellent!

Why come to The FIRM?
The FIRM is the closest rally school to me, which is one big reason why I went in the first place, but its staff is the reason I keep coming back. The instructors, shop staff, media and event coordinators are all great to work with. They’re friendly and accommodating and always willing to listen to an idea of something new to try. There’s a lot more to the FIRM than the cars and the track!

What brought you to The FIRM in the first place?
I’m not sure what brought us there first, a track day or an SCCA Rallycross event, but I was hooked from day 1. Looking forward to being a patron/instructor for as long as they’ll have me.

Have you taken any of our classes? If so, what did you think? If not, would you?
Yes, I took the half-day Rally class in early 2018. My husband took advantage of a Black Friday deal and gifted me the class. It was a GREAT way to jump start our second year of racing. Bryn was (and still is) an excellent instructor. Both Bryn and I had so much fun with the in-car instruction that my half-day course went a little longer than usual. If I had a chance, I’d love to learn some of the tips and tricks they teach during their security classes; pit maneuvers sound fun and challenging!

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself, car or your journey into racing?
My husband and I recently started our own racing team, Hidden World Racing. Following in the dragon theme, I love the idea that rally racing is an exploration of a Hidden World; you get to drive on roads so few others ever see, you get to explore the limits of your car that most daily drivers couldn’t fathom reaching, and you get to do it with your best friend beside you and a team of friends backing you up. The rally community, both locally in our SCCA region and at national events such as Sandblast, is filled with folks who really want to make sure everyone has fun and does their best. This Hidden World of rally highlights the BEST that the car enthusiast community has to offer. I also want to use Hidden World Racing to show everyone that you don’t have to have the biggest engine, you don’t need the most expensive car, and you don’t need to be a white male to compete and win; I’d really like to help open up this Hidden World of rally to everyone, every background, every gender, every driver/co-driver!









Learn More About Rally HERE!

 

INTERVIEW: Oliver Solberg on his WRC journey

39 shares
share
tweet
emailBy Eric Johnson | May 27, 2022 2:00 PM ET

The day prior to the launch of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship at Rally Monte Carlo, 20 year-old Oliver Solberg talked about lining up as a full-on Hyundai factory in the Hyundai i20 N WRC Hybrid.

“It is a dream come true for me to be joining the factory team for the first time,” said the son of 2003 World Rally champion Petter Solberg. “I am very excited; it’s just fantastically cool to be starting this new season.”

Working off of a master plan devised by Hyundai Motorsport and the Solberg family, the opening phase of the 2022 WRC World Championship has been all about racking up mileage and experience for the young Swede. WRC rounds in Monte Carlo and Croatia ended early via mechanical issues and a crash, while Rally Sweden brought a solid sixth-place overall finish. Shuffled back to the Rally2 car for the Vodafone Rally de Portugal to gain more time behind the wheel, Solberg showed strongly, winning the Power Stage along the way. We caught up with Solberg while he was back home in Sweden and getting both mentally and physically prepared for the Safari Rally Kenya in June, in which he will compete in the premiere WRC classification.

Q: How’s the WRC season been for you so far?

OLIVER SOLBERG: It’s been a bit up and down. It has been a good few races, but there has been a lot of bad luck also. At Monte Carlo we had some technical issues and Sweden was a really good race with a really good pace. Also, then we had some technical issues there. Of course the Croatian round was a big learning process as it was the first time back on tarmac in a long time. I went off the road there in the qualifier, so that was quite exciting. Yeah, it has been a bit up and down, but I think all in all we have had good speed and good progress. For sure it has been tough for the while team, but I think it is going well.

Q: You placed sixth in the WRC car at Rally Sweden. Certainly a solid result for a rookie driver.

OS: Sweden should have been much better, but I think at least the speed was really positive. We were almost leading the rally at some points and everything was looking good but unfortunately we had some technical issues on Friday night and they continued on into Saturday. We lost a lot of time, but I think sixth place in the end was good points for the team and they needed it, so I think it was OK.

Q: Hyundai Motorsport put you back in the WRC2 car for the Vodafone Rally de Portugal. You won a stage there; what was that like?

OS: I mean, the plan was not to race there at all, but as I said to the team, “I can’t sit at home. When you’re 20 years old, you can’t miss out n the chances.” You really need to drive a lot of cars and get into it and learn and get experience for the future. So they managed to fix me a car which was very good and very nice. We managed to get it all together with the sponsors and it was a bit like old times again, you know? That was nice. I had my own team with me and I had a lot of old friends with me. It was awesome. It was a nice race. It all went quite well until we unfortunately had some technical issues again, but that’s just part of the game. We got to do all of the stages, we got experience and that was the main thing. The result looked quite good up until the end, but that’s how it is.

Q: Are you good with competing in both the WRC and WRC2 car?

OS: I would like to do, for sure, a full season of WRC. I have to share a few races with Dani Sordo in WRC this year but that’s fine. I think it is good to get into a team and they have a good plan for the future, so on that side I think it is very positive. As a young guy, though, I would like to do all of them.

Q: The Safari Rally Kenya is approaching. I know you’re a fan of the history of the sport. Does that make you more excited to go?

OS: Yeah, for sure. It’s one of the coolest races in the world. Unfortunately, last year it didn’t go well, but I think this year we’ve got a new chance. The car should be really strong and reliable and hopefully we can have a good race and just drive clean. For sure it is such a special place with all of the people and the fans and the places. It’s something and it’s a place you could never imagine. It’s just an amazing adventure.

Q: You guys sure travel to some pretty far-flung places. It has to be a challenge to get everything from place to place…

OS: Yeah, definitely. For the whole team. Especially now with new cars and new regulations. Then we get into a lot of travel and a lot of testing, for a young guy, I think it is fantastic. I get to travel the world and it is the same for the whole team. It is a lot of work, but that is how it is at the moment. It’s always a lot of work at the beginning and then you get everything settled and then you get into a good rhythm and then it settles down. At the moment it is a lot of work and we’ve now got four events behind us. Believe it or not, the race is actually the calm part!

Q: You and Hyundai seem heavily invested in one another. Hyundai has made it clear that they have a lot of patience with you and fully want to see you develop into a world championship-contending driver.

OS: That’s the plan and I think we have a really good goal for it. Definitely we are in tough times at the moment, but the team is still fighting and I think they have a good plan for the future with me. Hopefully I can get some papers signed soon so we can get going even quicker into the future. It looks very good — I have a good relationship with the Koreans and we both come from a very humble place, so it’s a nice relationship and we really enjoy it together and I think that’s important.

Q: It’s all about WRC mileage and experience for you now, isn’t it? In the WRC driver haver to be constantly learning, don’t they?

OS: Rally is quite crazy, to be honest. Every race is so different and you see so many different conditions and different roads. You never stop learning, even if you’re 10-time world champion. I mean it all takes a really long time to learn. Also, these days you don’t have a lot of testing, so basically the race is the test — especially for us youngsters. With where I am at in my right now, it will definitely take some time, but I feel I’ve shown some strong pace to be in the top and now it is just to work with everything around the team. I’ll also need to work on consistency and stuff like that. The speed is there and that’s why the team is really happy with me. I think we’re working well together.

Q: How do you look at the rest of the season from here on in?

OS: There are a few races I really, really want to do well in and where I definitely hope to maybe make some podium finishes. We are really working towards that. For sure there are some other races where I have never been and where I just need to get some mileage in and get experience, play the long game and then helpfully it will all turn out well in the end. There are many very different races that I have to prepare for differently, mentally. It’s going to be a challenge, but I really enjoy all if it.

Q: How is your dad doing? Has he been keeping an eye on you?

Yeah, for sure. He is at every race. He’s super excited. He’s more in the background this year, but he’s always with me and that’s fantastic.