Petter: We will push as hard as ever.
Petter Solberg believes that unsettled weather conditions could help him and the Banbury-based outfit to get a good result on the season ending, Rally GB.
Petter has only managed to notch up two podiums to date this year, but usually goes well in Wales. Indeed he took his debut WRC win back in 2002 on the event and then won it again in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Last year he finished third and another podium this time out would be especially well timed following another trying season, in which he has only managed to score 42 points, less than half of that achieved by
Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm.
“Rally GB is the final round of the championship and we have always gone well there, so we’ll be pushing as hard as ever for a good result,” said ‘Hollywood’.
“If it’s typical Rally GB weather, wet with lots of mud on the stages, then those are the conditions I think we can go well on.
“It’s the team’s home event so they have lots of experience of the tricky conditions. Phil [Mills – my co-driver] lives close by so we always get lots of support.”
Subaru World Rally team managing director, Richard Taylor meanwhile is eager to see Petter and his team-mates,
Chris Atkinson and Xavier Pons deliver on what is their second home event.
“Rally GB, the closest to the team’s Banbury base, has traditionally been a strong event for the team,” he added.
“The team was testing in Wales last week and we hope we have achieved a set up which will be good in the tricky conditions and that will give all three of our drivers the opportunity for a good result.”
Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally team:
[
Jari-Matti Latvala, car #9,
Henning Solberg, car #10 [and
Matthew Wilson, car #16 - not nominated for manufacturers’ points]]
Stobart team gunning for P3 in manufacturers’.
Malcolm Wilson believes that Ford’s ‘B’ team, the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team, are in ‘quite’ a strong position going to Rally GB.
