"There's no doubt, the best way to celebrate my birthday would be with champagne on the winner's podium, but we have a lot of work to do before I can think about that," he noted. "Sweden is the best rally in the championship when the conditions are good. To drive flat out on the snow and ice with such good grip from the studded tyres is really enjoyable. The car seems to float across the surface. It's not so different driving on snow and ice compared with gravel. On the longer stages it is important to look after the tyres because if the studs start to pull out or move around, then you have to ease the pace. I had a good feeling with the Focus RS in the test and I hope to regain that during the shakedown ahead of the start on Thursday morning."
Mikko Hirvonen meanwhile will drive the second car and after bringing his Focus WRC 06 home in seventh place in Monte Carlo, he reckons a podium finish is on the cards.
"I really enjoy this event and I will push hard from the start. I think it's possible to fight for a podium," he confirmed. "If there is fresh snow overnight on Thursday, then we have an excellent start position for Friday. It will allow the new snow to be cleared off the road and give us a cleaner drive. In winter conditions a driver can afford to let the tyres do more of the work than on gravel. You can slide the car more and the studs are so good that in some places the grip is just as good as on a loose gravel surface."
555 Subaru World Rally Team:
[
Petter Solberg, car #5 and
Chris Atkinson, car #6.]
Subaru number one driver, Petter Solberg won the Swedish Rally last year and he will be eager to do the same this time out after an unfortunate start to the season in Monte Carlo, which saw him retire at the end of the first leg with a mechanical problem. 'Hollywood' considers the event a 'home' rally and in addition to winning in 2005 he was third in 2004 and sixth in 2003.
