Having dropped behind the
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team in the standings following Rally Ireland,
Subaru has reclaimed third in the World Rally Championship manufacturers' championship after
Petter Solberg took a fourth place finish on Wales Rally GB.
The Norwegian enjoyed a solid run throughout the event and was able to survive arguably the toughest conditions of the weekend on leg three, despite suffering some handling issues on his Impreza after hitting a rock on the second stage of the morning.
However, having lost time to the chasing Dani Sordo behind, Solberg was able to stay ahead with the third quickest time on the opening stage of the afternoon and came home just over 15 seconds clear of the Spaniard in the fight for fourth.
"We came here to do the best we could and the team have been working so hard to get back on top again," Solberg said after a result that secured his fifth place in the drivers' standings. "We thought we could do better here than we have, but we have to push forward for next year now.
"We have taken back third overall in the manufacturer championship which is so important, and I thank the team for all their effort this year.
"Now we have a small break before Monte Carlo, but we are doing lots of testing and I am looking forward to coming back strongly for some better results in the new season. It's very important for Subaru that we are getting back on track. I really want to get back on top again too."
With
Chris Atkinson also in the points, Subaru overturned a one point deficit to the Stobart team into a six point advantage, although managing director Richard Taylor admitted that there was work to be done to take Subaru back to the top after a winless campaign that saw his team unable to take the fight to either Ford or
Citroen.
