Oliver Solberg claimed the early lead at Rally Italy Sardinia after winning Thursday's opening super special stage, firing an early warning shot in the high-stakes World Rally Championship title decider.
Entering the gravel weekend trailing championship leader Elfyn Evans by 21 points, Solberg delivered a stellar performance in the technical head-to-head test to beat M-Sport-Ford rival Josh McErlean and secure a 0.8-second advantage at the top of the standings.
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Subscribe"The goal is simple but to achieve it is a different story - 35 points is what I need to get," Solberg said after his strong opening run on the Italian island.
Solberg's impressive benchmark eclipsed the earlier time set by team-mate Sebastien Ogier, while championship leader Elfyn Evans outperformed title rival Sami Pajari in their duel to slot into third overall.
Elfyn Evans Focuses on Title Battle Ahead of Friday Stages
Elfyn Evans admitted that Friday's upcoming gravel stages will present a demanding test as he opens the road and tackles severe cleaning challenges on the loose surface.
"We are here to drive like usual and try and do a good job even though it will be quite challenging," Evans noted as he pursues the points required to clinch his maiden world title.
Evans holds a 17-point margin over fellow contender Sami Pajari and needs to secure 19 points during the Sardinia weekend to guarantee the crown.
With six grueling gravel stages awaiting the competitors on Friday, the dramatic three-way championship showdown promises a fiercely competitive battle across the Italian terrain.