Rally: Solberg sets sights on podium placing

Sep 16 2005 icWales

Three-time winner Petter Solberg has played down his chances of a fourth Wales Rally GB victory this weekend.

Subaru driver Solberg has been left chasing the shadow of reigning world champion and series leader Sebastien Loeb for most of this season.

With only two victories to his name, in Sweden and Mexico, in comparison to Loeb’s eight, the Norwegian has endured a difficult year, struggling against a difficult car.

Solberg, who clinched the world crown in 2003 following his second successive win in Britain, currently lies third in the championship behind Loeb and Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm and he is not optimistic of scoring maximum points this weekend.

“Last year I had 30 stage wins, more than anybody, and this year I am struggling to get the stage win for any rally,” Solberg told PA Sport.

“I have something for this rally that I feel that I can go maybe 10% more but I’m still lacking maybe 10% more out of the car.

“I don’t think we will beat Loeb. Podium? I would be happy with that, anything other than a podium and I wouldn’t be happy, it’s not nice to say it.

“It’s very special for us as we have won here three times and the championship.

“It’s not really my home rally because of the team being based in Britain and my co-driver Phil Mills is from Wales, but it’s more for the team and for the fans and mechanics and for everyone that definitely is very special. From my point of view I just want to win.”

Solberg will also have the added rivalry of his former Ford team-mate to contend with as Britain’s first-ever world rally champion Colin McRae makes his comeback to the series this weekend behind the wheel of a Skoda.

“To come back like this he will go for a big attack, but I hope he will do well,” said Solberg.

“When you go away from something for a while it takes a little bit of time, normally he’s absolutely flat out and he does really well. He’s professional and as a driver, as a car control driver, he is one of the best in the world.

“I was very young when I came into Ford and we were driving together so I was sitting in the car a lot with him and we have a very good relationship.”