Petter: One puncture and you're finished!

Subaru's number one driver Petter Solberg has warned that competitors will pay a high price for punctures this season following the outlawing of anti-deflation devices.

Speaking ahead of the Rallye Monte Carlo, round one in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship, the Norwegian added that whoever adapts quickest to the new Pirelli tyres and the conditions will do well this weekend at the Principality.

Furthermore while Petter himself hasn't had much luck on the Monte - only scoring points twice in his last five attempts, when he was sixth in 2007 and seventh in 2004 - he is determined to do as well as possible this time out to get the new season off to a positive start.

"It is important to get into a rhythm straight away and settle into a pace you feel comfortable with. With no anti-deflation mousse you can't take risks in the stages as a puncture could finish your rally," he confirmed. "There will be a lot of snow I think and Monte is always tricky anyway so it won't be easy, that's for sure.

"It will be about who can make the most of their tyres and adapt to the conditions fastest, but if someone manages something special with them people will follow quickly."

Asked how pre-season testing has gone, the Norwegian added that he has been reasonably pleased, although he reiterated that punctures will be a big worry.

"Testing has been ok so far. I feel comfortable on the new tyres - tyre testing has gone well and I feel I have learned them very well," he told the team's official website, www.swrt.com.

"You need a little different driving style now to get the most from them, but I am happy going into Monte and Sweden. Thinking about punctures will be very, very important though. You can't drive like before - one puncture and you're finished. I think people will drive more cautiously and definitely not cut corners as much."