by Rob Wilkins


Petter Solberg's co-driver, Phil Mills has said that there is no truth to stories linking the Norwegian to either Citroen or Ford for 2008.

Petter has been rumoured to be looking to leave Subaru after another difficult year with the Banbury-based outfit and while there is no doubt 'Hollywood' and Mills haven't enjoyed many good events this season, Phil reiterated at the Castle Combe Rallyday in the UK last month that they are very committed to the Prodrive-run squad.

"There is a very simple answer to that," he told Crash.net Radio, when asked about the stories. "We are contracted until the end of 2009 with Subaru and I don't know where these rumours come from.

"We have shown commitment to Subaru by signing a three-year deal eight or nine months ago and there are no changes to that deal at all. We are committed until the end of 2009 and that is the end of that. These rumours are great I suppose from a press point of view but I really don't know where they start."

Asked who might replace Marcus Gronholm at Ford next year, following the Finn's decision to retire, Phil added that M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson has a number of possibilities.

"If you look at it common-sense wise [Jari-Matti] Latvala is there ready to move in. Mikko will go up to number one and Latvala will slot into number two. I guess everybody is guessing that way.

"They could go down the specialist route though and get [Francois] Duval in to do the tarmac events and even Marcus has said he hasn't retired full-time. If Marcus comes back and does five gravel rallies and Duval does the tarmac rallies all of a sudden you have got a very interesting team there as well.

"Ford has got a lot of possibilities – either using specialists or signing up somebody like Latvala. It depends on what route they want to go down. There are certainly quite a few options open to them."

Pressed on if it is a year too soon for Jari, Phil noted it is difficult to say: "Realistically, yes you would say it is a year too soon to take on the responsibility. But they said that of Mikko and he turned out to be the ultimate number two driver the world championship has seen for many decades," he continued.

"Malcolm has got a very, very good way of controlling young drivers. They respect him and he rules with a stiff hand, which is good. It has worked to the ultimate with Mikko and I am sure it could work the same again with Jari," Phil summed-up.


TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH PHIL MILLS: CLICK HERE