Rally Paradise, Kristian Sohlberg´s Profile

Kristian Sohlberg

Finland (FIN)

CAREER PROFILE

1997: Started rallying with Ford Escort RS 2000

1999: 3rd in Finnish Junior Championship with Toyota Starlet, Drives also with Mitsubishi

2000: His WRC debut in Rally Finland with Mitsubishi

2001: Drives Mitsubishi

2002: Drives Mitsubishi, 2nd PCWRC for Drivers

2003: Drives Mitsubishi

2004: Contract with Mitsubishi

2005: Drives Ford

Date of Birth:
15/2/1978 at Espoo

Marital status:
Single

Hobbies:
tennis, golf, gym, jogging

World Drivers' Champion:
Not yet

Entries of WRC Events

The son of the President of the Finnish motorsport federation and the younger brother of a successful driver Mika, Kristian Sohlberg started competing at the age of 15, taking part in ice races in a VW Beetle. The speed came an enjoyment to a young and ambitious young guy. It lead into purchase of a Ford Escort RS2000. At his first competition season, 1997 as b-junior, Kristian completed races with variable success. Seasons final race led into victory and Kristian gained to a-junior.

At his second racing year, 1998, Kristian drove Finnish Junior Rally Championships and other rallies as a-junior. By 1999, he had replaced the Escort with a Toyota Starlet and finished third in the Finnish Junior Championship. During the same year Kristian drove 10 other rallies which included eight victories and two retirements.

He stepped up to the Finnish Rally Championship in 2000 and the best result of the season was fifth place in Uusikaupunki rally. WRC-rounds in Sweden and Finland ended with dissapointing retirements.

At summer 2001 Kristian gained his best result, the victory in international rally in Germany. He also achieved fourth place in Finnish Championships.

Season 2002 was Kristian´s breaking through the world level. He was driving in FIA´s Production Car World Rally Championship. He was very competitive and consistent in the series and only narrowly missed taking the championship and placed second in the series.

For the season 2003 he had a plan to contest the Junior World Rally Championship, but then it came possible to become the first driver to agree a customer programme with Ralliart Europe and he tackled three rounds of the World Rally Championship in a works-specification World Rally Car run by the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart customer program. His best result in 2003 was 14th place on the Deutschland in the outmoded Lancer WRC02, but he had held sixth before crashing in New Zealand and convinced Mitsubishi´s new chief Sven Quandt that he has the potential for better things.

For the season 2004 he made the contract with Mitsubishi and shared the second works entry in selected rounds to gain World Rally Car experience. The car was not ready at all and the season was a big disappointment.

In 2005 he will compete the Finnish Rally Championship series in a Ford Focus RS WRC02 and drives also some WRC events with the same car.