While this is not the first time someone has disguised a world famous driver and used him to scare unsuspecting victims, it never gets old to us. This time the driver is 2003 World Rally Championship champion and 2014 & 2015 FIA World Rallycross champion Petter Solberg. The guy is one of the true driving talents of the last 50 years and he’s the best when the conditions are the worst. That’s why he was the perfect dude to dress up like a kindly old man, plug into a ridiculous 577-hp 2016 AMG E63 S Mercedes wagon. This is a monster of a car and with all the traction aids off in a slushy parking lot is the kind of toy that a guy like Solberg can operate with glee.
The setup is pretty simple. Petter is in a professionally prepared costume and made to look like he’s about 80 years old. He pulls the wagon off to the side of the road and up on a curb, pretending to be confused about a noise that the car is making in the rear. Mercedes sends some roadside assistance mechanics out (one at a time) to check on him and see if they can help. Once he gets them in the car the game is on and you can see their terror once he starts lacing the gas pedal, spinning the car, getting into confrontations with pedestrians, and generally screwing around in a way we’d all love to.
You’ll have to watch the video to see how the guys react! Solberg is a native Norwegian and we’re guessing that he’s at home when this happens. The conversation is translated into English subtitles (with some hilarious gaffes) and we think you will really dig this video. Great stuff for a Monday!
Petter Solberg, the Norwegian version of “Bad Grampa”.
Or the Norwegian version of Jeff Gordon
Great selection
Man, Solberg is trollin’ hard.
The one guy in the lighter blue jacket seemed terrified, one was just concerned but that one guy seemed to enjoy the whole thing. Pretty cool.
Seems he was so exciting the video no longer exists.