Published as a feature in Maxrally

When the dream become reality. When the goal was reached. When the trophy was finally in the right hands – my hands. There and then, on the stage in front of an entire motorsports world in Doha, it seriously hit me what I have managed, what I have achieved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a World Champion!

Again!

This year, I followed a new dream, I pushed difficulties aside, I never gave up and I got paid in motorsport’s most valuable currency: wins.

I went for it. And I succeeded.

Nothing can match the self-respect that is realised after reaching the ultimate goal. Even if dreams are big or small, to set goals and struggle to achieve them, that is one of the most important challenges in life, not just out sport.

In my new sport there were many drivers who dreamed of becoming the first ever FIA World Rallycross Champion. But in the end, my team was working the hardest. My team played the smartest and did most things right on the way towards the goal.

We made a plan and had small targets along the way during the season. We took calculated risks, we tried out new opportunities, we thought differently. We dreamed together and set common goals. And we reached our goals together.

In 2003, I didn’t get a trophy to take home after the World Rally Championship prizegiving. Just a couple of weeks ago at a party to celebrate both our second world championship and my 40th birthday, my wife Pernilla and son Oliver gave me a copy of the 2003 trophy. For 11 years, I had been a little sorry that I never got a trophy – the surprise by Oliver and Pernilla was absolutely fantastic!

To me the trophies say it all. I seldom look back at achievements while I’m still in the game – I’m only looking forward ­– but one day even I will retire. Then I want to look back at what I’ve actually done.

And the most prestigious one in my 2014 collection is the Gregor Grant, lifetime achievement award, I received at the Autosport Awards in London a couple of weeks ago.

To celebrate a world title is something very special. Eleven years passed before I fulfilled that dream again. After the title race was settled in Italy in September, I decided to celebrate it in the best possible way, with all my friends around me. We ended up at my workshop in Torsby with 220 invited friend and loved ones. That was a very emotional evening.

It feels really different to wake in the morning now. As usual it happens early, around seven. I normally go to the bathroom, look into the mirror and tell myself I can reach any goal if I work hard enough… just like my dear mother taught me to do many years ago.

The smile I get in return sets me on that path. The journey of life must also contain some down moments, if one’s going to be able to enjoy the highs to the fullest.

One more year is now behind us and it has been the most successful in my career. The world title, five race victories, nine podium finishes (from twelve races), 24 heat victories (from 72 in total) in the World RX – plus the Monster Super Charge award (first car into the first corner in the RX finals) and a further four triumphs in unofficial races.

And it’s not just me who has been winning in the Solberg household; my son Oliver had an equally good crosskart season with three titles (Northern European, Swedish and Norwegian champion) and nine single victories – and they all mean just as much to me.

My main plan for 2015 is to defend my World RX title. It is guaranteed be difficult to win again in 2015, but we have a good and well-developed path to do it. This year’s World Championship gold made me even hungrier for success.

Race victories and titles are doing really driving me on right now. I am 110 percent sure that this year’s season in rallycross has made me a better motorsport performer. Therefore, I have also toyed with the idea of driving some WRC rounds if a good enough offer arises. I would also like to go head-to-head with the Global Rallycross drivers in the X Games – and I want to win Race of Champions individually. The experience in Barbados before Christmas was really great. What a wonderful event the Race of Champions is! Thanks to everyone in the organisation and my colleagues who contributed to a life experience. And thanks to Tom Kristensen for a successful and very inspiring collaboration that led us to the top of the Nations Cup!

But on top of my list of wishes for 2015 is to retain my championship crown in rallycross.

In approximately 11 months we’ll know…

I wish you all the best in 2015.

Photo: Maxrally