Henning Solberg secures Focus drive for 2005.

Henning Solberg has secured a part season in a 'works-assisted' Ford Focus WRC.

According to reports by the official WRC website, the deal will see him compete in seven of the 16 events in 2005, beginning with the Swedish Rally in February, round two of the championship.

Although, Henning is not a part of the official Ford team, he will have the latest specification car and could be nominated for points on certain events - in much the same way as Janne Tuohino substituted for Francois Duval in Sweden and Finland this season.

"We hope to fight among the six best in every round we will compete in, and in Sweden I will go for the podium," he told wrc.com.

"I'm really looking forward to driving the very competitive Ford.

"I also look forward to working with Malcolm Wilson, and driving alongside Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta."

Henning, the brother of Petter Solberg, contested seven WRC events this season, in a Bozian Peugeot 206.

M-Sport have now confirmed they will run four cars in 2005, the works Fords of Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta, as well as a privately ran Focus for Anthony Warmbold. These drivers will contest all 16 events.

Four more drivers are said to be in talks with M-Sport about running in privateer Ford's, including, so WRC insiders suggest, Subaru reject Mikko Hirvonen and Daniel Sola.