Remember this is an event that the Norwegian driver has won no less than 4 consecutive times in the past (2002-2005), therefore the roads in the UK bear little secrets to the former WRC champion. However, due to some uncompetitive packages provided by Subaru in recent years, he was unable to repeat his Wales success from 2006 onwards.
Having spent all of this season behind the wheel of a 2-year old Citroen Xsara – and securing 2 podiums in the process – Solberg contacted Ford's Malcolm Wilson for a more competitive one-year old Focus WRC RS. While the negotiations are still to be finalized, getting the Ford drive might come at the expense of having to sign the Rally GB entry list as a Stobart VK M-Sport driver.
If that will be the case, his extensive experience in the UK event added to the competitive package provided by Ford could secure the car maker the necessary points for the WRC title this year. While he may play a decisive role in this year's manufacturers' battle, Solberg knows one thing only: he wants to win.
“I'm looking at many different things for Rally GB, the Focus is one of the things I'm thinking about. If I do it, I would do it to try and win the rally, of course, that's the plan. At the end of the day, both the Ford and the Citroen are winning cars, I don't care which car it is - I just want to win again!” said Solberg in the aforementioned interview.
If he debuts at Stobart in Great Britain, Petter will join brother Henning as teammate for the first time in his professional rallying years.
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