Solberg duo steers Team Norway to ROC Nations Cup win

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Petter and Oliver Solberg delivered the ROC Nations Cup win to Team Norway on Saturday after beating Team USA chargers Jimmie Johnson and Colton Herta in the event's final round on the icy track at Pite Havsbad in Sweden.

The father and son duo wrapped up three out of four wins against their American rivals.

Solverg Sr defeated Johnson in the opening heat after the latter's Polaris Pro XP suffered a mechanical issue right off the line, while Oliver Solberg clinched the second hear against Herta.

However, Johnson kept the US team's hopes alive by defeating Solberg Jr on-board the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, but a mistake by Herta on the final run sealed his team's fate and delivered victory to Team Norway.

"The motivation for this [came] when I saw Sebastien Loeb win in Monte Carlo, which made me think that it can’t be so difficult," said former rally veteran and rally cross champion Petter Solberg.

"I was so ready for this race and to do it together with Oliver was a big dream."

Read also: Bottas forced to back out of ROC in Sweden

Team Norway breezed through to the final round thanks to wins against Sweden and defending champions Team Nordic, but Johnson and Herta's trajectory was equally impressive given their inexperience of the extreme conditions.

The pair disposed of Team Germany in the quarter-final round, with Sebastian Vettel losing both his heats while Mick Schumacher winning his first confrontation against Herta but losing his second against Johnson.

The American drivers then dispatched Team Finland's Mika Halkkinen and W Series racer Emma Kimilainen in the semi-final round to gain access to the final.

Earlier in the day, another pair of F1 representatives was left out in the cold, with Team GB's David Coulthard and Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick promptly eliminated by Team Finland, with Hakkinen defeating his former McLaren teammate in their icy match-up.

The Race of Champions event will resume on Sunday with the field's drivers competing for individual honours.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.