Solberg recalls how he started gaming with Colin McRae

The event, which is run in partnership with Motorsport Games, will take place on a range of virtual circuits from ROC’s history replicated on simulator-platform Assetto Corsa. 

16 drivers, including 2003 WRC champion Solberg, Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean and current Formula E championship leader Antonio Felix da Costa will compete head-to-head for the inaugural Virtual ROC crown. 

Two-time World RX champion Solberg rediscovered sim racing following the postponement of real-life motorsport, having previously helped to develop the now-iconic Colin McRae Rally video game series. 

Solberg and McRae became teammates at Ford during the 1999 WRC season and the duo tested the first game in the franchise and provided feedback for the developers Codemasters. 

“I was actually doing quite a lot of gaming in the early days when I was with Colin McRae,” Solberg recalled. 

“When the first Colin McRae game came out, I had signed for Ford and me and Colin were test driving this game together in hotel rooms all around the world. 

“We wrote down what to improve and that was the first time I really got into the gaming side.” 

Solberg will race with his son Oliver, who has embarked on a factory-supported Skoda programme on the WRC support bill this year, in the Virtual ROC Nations Cup team event. 

“This time I bought a rig for Oliver two months ago,” Solberg added.

“He set everything up and at first I couldn’t even drive it, it was terrible. I said: ‘What the hell? How can he go so fast?’ 

“But last week I got the best setup for me, so now we have one each – and now it seems like I’ve been using it much more than him. 

“It’s a very fair and open competition and anybody can win regardless of which type of motorsport they come from, the same as the real-world Race Of Champions. 

“When you make it through to the quarter-finals your heart rate goes up and it’s easy to make mistakes, so you have to try to stay calm. 

“I’m sure it will be the same in the Virtual ROC so it’s exciting. Everyone wants to do well and there will be the same psychological mind games as well.” 

Full coverage of the event will begin at 6pm BST on Sunday on Motorsport.tv.