There's no chance of a new Rally2 car in 2028... it'll be a spaceframe chassis with an OEMs road car design, or M-Sports own.
https://x.com/se_llama_GRANCA/status/2049860943014731980?s=20
Well Solberg had been faster than Ogier on the two previous stages. Plus bear in mind that Solberg was coming off two bad scores on his last WRC events and would want as many Super Sunday points...
I wouldn't say waiting, I think MW is rightfully avoiding any possibility of conflict of interest claims while having a plan in the background.

Tänak https://youtu.be/x7AUZrH7h2Q?is=GY-xdxIS2L2Lf0k6
WRC Testing