According to multiple reports, Oliver Solberg, currently second in the World Rally Championship standings, faces a personal crisis as his fiancée Chloe Chambers' application for a residence permit in Sweden has been rejected. The couple had planned to get married this summer on the Solberg family's property in Värmland but have postponed the wedding due to the permit issue.
According to Sportbladet, Oliver Solberg described the situation as extremely stressful, saying he has hardly been able to be home in Sweden because if he is there, Chloe cannot be with him. He said he misses his home but cannot be there with her, and the constant travel makes it difficult to focus on the championship. He added that the last few weeks have been the toughest in his career and that he is starting to get back pain from sleeping on the sofa at his in-laws' house.
It has been a hell.
The couple has been living at Chloe's parents' house in the UK between races. Due to Schengen rules, Chambers can only spend a few days in Sweden until August, which makes planning uncertain. According to Sportbladet, Oliver Solberg said they have a house and a home in Sweden but cannot live there together, and they do not know what to do or what will happen.
The couple has appealed the rejection of the residence permit application. It is unclear why the application was rejected or when a decision on the appeal will be made. According to Sportbladet, Oliver Solberg said that if the situation does not improve and the authorities do not understand, he has no choice but to move. He stated that they have moved the wedding a year so that she can come to Sweden, but if she is not allowed, he will move one hundred percent. The impact of this personal turmoil on his performance in the World Rally Championship remains to be seen.
The last few weeks have been really tough.
I have hardly been able to be home in Sweden because if I am there, Chloe cannot be with me. I really miss my home, but if I am there we cannot be together. Instead, I have to travel everywhere, and it becomes extremely stressful when you also have to try to focus on a championship. We don't know what to do or what will happen.
The last few weeks have been quite tough, perhaps the toughest in my career. I want to focus, but it's difficult. What wouldn't you do for love? If she is not well, I am not well either, and after three months I am starting to get back pain from sleeping on the sofa at my in-laws'. At the same time, you try to make the best of the situation and hope that someone sees the case and understands our situation.
No, nothing. If I go home we don't meet, and that doesn't do either of us any good. This affects us both mentally and doesn't make life easier. She has sacrificed everything to be with me and doesn't have a life in England either, but she is not allowed to be home with me.
You live out of a suitcase. With the Schengen rules, we only have the possibility to plan a couple of days at home until August, she is not allowed to spend more time in Sweden. That makes everything very uncertain. We have a house and a home, but if we are not allowed to live there. Where should we be and what happens? You don't know anything.
If it continues like this and the authorities don't understand, I have no choice. We have moved the wedding a year so that she can come to Sweden, so that we can get married in Värmland. If she is not allowed to come there, I will move, one hundred percent. This is starting to get really tough.