The world's top rally drivers will be spraying gravel this weekend as they compete in the Rally Estonia and the high-speed event is shaping up to be a fascinating battle.
The last three rounds in WRC in Portugal, Japan and Greece have all produced different winners and five drivers have stood on the top step of the podium in the eight races so far.
Welsh star Elfyn Evans leads the World Championship standings with 162 points but was only fifth in Greece last time out, losing ground to second-placed Takamoto Katsuta (151) who was third, and winner Sebastien Ogier, who is now third on 125 points.
The rally is based in Tartu, Estonia, and will consist of 18 stages with 11 cars taking part in the Rally1 category and 53 entrants in all classes.
Toyota's Oliver Solberg recorded his first WRC win in last year's race, beating Hyundai's Ott Tanak by 25 seconds with Oliver Neuville (Hyundai) in third.
Rally Estonia Tips Summary
Best Bet - Oliver Solberg to win @ 15/8
Alternative Bet - Sami Pajari each-way @ 5/1
Alternative Bet - Thierry Neuville each-way @ 9/1
Rally Estonia Prediction
Best Bet: Oliver Solberg to win @ 15/8
Oliver Solberg made the headlines at last year's Rally Estonia when claiming his maiden success in the event on his first appearance in the Rally1 category.
The Swede, who is the son of 2003 World Rally champion Petter Solberg, won the Rally2 championship last season with five wins from seven entries and had recorded five successes in that category in the previous two seasons.
He made the step up to a full-time role with the main Toyota team this season and won in Monte Carlo on his debut, but it has not gone so smoothly for the talented 24-year-old since then.
After finishing fourth in Sweden, he had mechanical issues in Kenya, crashed on the first stage in Croatia, and met the same fate when challenging Ogier for the lead in the Canary Islands.
He got back on track with second place in Portugal but crashed again when chasing Evans for the lead in Japan and was hampered by an early puncture in Greece.
Solberg has shown that he has tremendous pace and talent despite some rookie mistakes in his first season at the top level and it's no surprise to see him heading the market at the venue where he shone last year.
Alternative Bet: Sami Pajari each-way @ 5/1
Finland's Sami Pajari is another young driver who could go well in Estonia. In contrast to his fellow 24-year-old Solberg, Pajari has been a picture of consistency and is the only driver in the top six in the standings not to have won a rally this season.
After failing to complete the course in the opener in Monte Carlo, Pajari has put together a strong run of results with five podium finishes in the next seven rounds and he was a solid fourth in Greece.
Pajari has a chance to push on in the championship in the next two rounds, which are both on his favoured gravel surface, with his home race coming up next.
The Finn was seventh in this event last season and was on the podium in Estonia in his Rally2 days in 2023, having won the Rally3 category there in 2022. He looks to have a strong each-way chance this week.
Alternative Bet: Thierry Neuville each-way @ 9/1
While seven of the first eight rallies have been won by Toyota Yaris cars, Hyundai picked up the other event in Japan through Thierry Neuville and the Belgian driver could lead their challenge again.
Neuville is 38 but won his first world title just two years ago having previously finished runner-up in the championship five times and third three times.
He is only sixth in the standings this year, but has a win and a second-place finish in the last three rounds.
He has finished on the podium in three of his last four visits to Estonia including third last season, placing fourth on the other occasion, and looks capable of going well again.
Key Rally Estonia Stats
- Oliver Solberg is the only previous winner taking part this year
- Thierry Neuville has finished on the podium in Estonia three times
- Toyota have won seven of this season's eight rallies
- Sebastien Ogier has won two of the last four rounds
- Sami Pajari has finished in the top three in five of the last seven rounds
- Elfyn Evans leads the world championship but has won only one of the last six rounds
Read more WRC betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
