The calendar for 2008 is finalized. FIA had a meeting 24. October and decided on the following for 2008;

24 – 27/1 76e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
8 – 10/2 Uddeholm Swedish Rally
28/2 – 2/3 Rally Mexico
27 – 30/3 Rally Argentina
24 – 27/4 Jordan Rally WRC
16 – 18/5 Rallye d’Italia – Sardegna
29/5 – 1/6 BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally
13 – 15/6 Rally of Turkey
31/7 – 3/8 Neste Oil Rally Finland
15 – 17/8 ADAC Rallye Deutschland
28 – 31/8 Rally of New Zealand
2 – 5/10 Rallye de Espana
10 – 12/10 Rallye de France – Tour de Course
24 – 26/10 Rally Japan
28 – 30/11 Wales Rally GB

And with some changes compared to this year, Norway is out, together with Portugal, Australia and Ireland. Turkey is back and Jordan will arrange a WRC-event for the first time.

From 2009 there will be 24 events over a period of two years. This means that some countries will be hosting a rally every year, and others every 2nd year. Norway is the opening rally on the proposal for 2009, where both Monte Carlo and Sweden are not. A decision regarding the 2009 calendar will be made by FIA Motorsport Council in December.

The winner of Rally Japan 2007 is Mikko Hirvonen. Dani Sordo came in 2nd, while Henning Solberg managed to finish 3rd overall. This is Hennings first time ever in Japan. Petter ended 17th, after he was forced to retire from the rally on Friday. He restarted again Saturday under Superrally-regulations, and got a 25. minutes time-penalty. Chris Atkinson also went off the road on Friday and had to retire. And the same happened to Xevi Pons on Saturday, he started Superrally Sunday.

Markus Grønholm, who is leading the drivers championship, had to retire on Friday. Sebastien Loeb went off the road on Saturday and started Superrally Sunday, but had to retire once again with oil pressure problems.

Next event is Rally Ireland, 16. – 18. November 2007.

Overall classification Rally Japan 2007:

1. Hirvonen, Ford 3.23.57,6
2. Sordo, Citroen +37,4
3. Henning Solberg, Ford (Stobart) +4.33,7
4. Wilson, Ford (Stobart) +6.37,9
5. Perez Companc, Ford (Munchis) +6.40,4
6. Stohl, Citroen (Kronos) +7.04,3
7. Villagra, Ford (Munchis) +11.15,3
8. Taguchi, Mitsubishi +20.40,1

17. Petter, Subaru +26.28,2

No report from Viki, but we have received images from Saturday.

Rally Japan, leg 2 is completed, with Mikko Hirvonen in the lead. Dani Sordo is 2nd, while Henning and Cato is 3rd. Petter has been driving fast today, and set the fastest time on 4 of todays stages. After beeing forced to retire yesterday, he restarted today under SuperRally regulations, and has now climbed up to 15th position.

Heavily rain during the night made the stages very muddy and slippery. Xevi Pons was the first to experience how slippery it was and went off the road on SS12, and retired. The next one was Jari-Matti Latvala who slid off the muddy road, hit a three and damaged the front of his car, and had to retire. Sebastien Loeb also slid off the road and ended Rally Japan in a ditch.

Rally Japan finishes tomorrow with 7 stages. First car is on the road at 0706 – local time.

Overall classification Leg 2:

1. Hirvonen, Ford
2. Sordo, Citroen +38,2
3. Henning Solberg, Ford (Stobart) +1.51,7
4. Perez Companc, Ford (Munchis) +5.05,6
5. Wilson, Ford (Stobart) +5.27,3
6. Stohl, Citroen (Kronos) +5.29,7
7. Villagra, Ford (Munchis) +7.26,6
8. Pozzo, Mitsubishi (Tango) +14.47,1

15. Petter, Subaru +25.29,8

Fog, ice and heavy rain made the first day of Rally Japan a real challenge. The stages in Japan are known to be narrow, and the weather conditions didn’t make it easier for the drivers. 10 stages are completed today. Mikko Hirvonen is in the lead after the first leg is completed, followed by Sebastien Loeb only 10 seconds behind.

Petter set off to a good start, but lost seconds on SS5 when he slid off the road and into a ditch. He damaged the front off his car, but managed to complete the stage, only 10 seconds behind Latvala, who had the fastest time through that stage. However, on the roadsection heading to SS6 the gearbox started to trouble forcing him to retire. Both Petter and SWRT hope he will restart again tomorrow under SuperRally regulations.

Markus Grønholm was first to retire today. He went off the road on SS4, but managed to complete the stage. Later at the servicepark they found that the roll cage was damaged, and he had to retire. Chris Atkinson also had to retire, after he went off the road on SS6. Xevi Pons, who is competing in Japan for the first time, is 7th after the first day.

Rally Japan continues tomorrow with 10 stages. First car is on the road at 0713 – local time.

Overall classification Leg 1:

1. Hirvonen, Ford
2. Loeb, Citroen +10,3
3. Latvala, Ford +13,7
4. Sordo, Citroen +40,6
5. Henning, Ford +48,4
6. Stohl, Citroen +1.30,0
7. Pons, Subaru +2.02,6
8. Perez Companc, Ford +2.20,8

Hi Everyone!

I’m sorry to disappoint you but I was busy today with some work along with the recce chasing. (or is that stalking) and so I will send some pictures to hold you over. I will be home earlier tomorrow I will get two reports done tomorrow.. maybe 3?!!!

I send a picture of last night’s dinner. “Butadon” that is a delicious dish which is famous in Obihiro! Thin sliced pork with a delicious sauce served over rice.
(note, that even though I’ve had a few small meals I have still lost 2.5 pounds since I got here…yes I brought my scale from home!)

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今日はレッキ２日目、新得町方面のスペシャルステージにて行われました。
朝から晴天の中、待ちかまえた観客が休憩中の選手にサインや写真をお願いし、どの選手も気安く応じていました。中には、ワークスドライバー＆コ・ドライバーすべてのサインを手に入れたり、愛車の中に多くの選手にサインをしてもらった強者も…
ペター・ソルベルグ選手とフィル・ミルズ選手も、スバルチームやその他ワークスチームの選手やクルーたちと談笑し、レッキの合間のひとときを楽しんでいました。
今日でレッキは終了し本番の走行に備えます。

夕方から帯広スバルにてスバルワークスチーム壮行会が行われ、昼過ぎから熱心なファンが良い席を求めて駆けつけていました。
開始時間前には立ち見を含めて店内は溢れるほどのファンで埋め尽くされ、鈴鹿Ｆ１のＭＣでもおなじみのサーキットアナウンサー、ピエール北川選手の紹介により選手が登場しました。
ペター・ソルベルグ選手を先頭にクリス・アトキンソン選手とチェビー・ポンス選手が登場すると、場内は割れんばかりの歓声とともにスバルの青い旗が振られ会場の雰囲気は最高潮に達しました。
ソルベルグ選手から順に観客への挨拶が行われていき、ポンス選手の時になると会場最前列から一斉にポンズコールと共にポン酢の瓶が…日本の関係者は皆笑ってましたが、海外のメディアや当の本人はわかっていたのかどうか！？ポン酢の瓶を手にしたポンス選手に物珍しげにメディアからのフラッシュの嵐を受けていました。
ここでサプライズイベントが。東チーム代表が昨日誕生日を迎えたということで、ファンからのプレゼントと観客によるハッピーバースデーの合唱がありました。
その後、発表されたばかりのスバル・インプレッサWRX STIのプロモーションビデオが流れる中で、試乗した各選手からのコメントがあり、アトキンソン選手より「来年はみんなこのクルマで来てくれ」と場内を沸かせました。
さらに抽選で選手のサイン会が行われ、当選したラッキーなファンが思い思いのアイテムにサインをもらっていました。
スバルの各選手は集まったファンの応援という後押しを受けて、きっと最初のステージから快調に駆け抜けてくれることでしょう。

明日は朝から北愛国サービスパークにてシェイクダウンが行われ、夕方からはいよいよ帯広市内で華々しくセレモニアルスタートが行われます。ファンの皆さんからスバルチームへのさらなるご声援をお願いします。

Tuesday October 23, 2007 part 1

This time I have to do this in two parts. First of all it was too exciting to fit into one report today and second I can’t stay awake long enough!

Tuesday morning 5:20am:

I woke up late! Not surprising though since I did not get to sleep until after 3:30 am. I was making Halloween treat bags for some of the drivers and co-drivers until that time..

I apologized to all my friends over and over but my lateness turned out to be a godsend!!!

We went to Hiromo’s hotel to pick her up and who was getting into his recce car but Manfred Stohl! So I shouted… “wait Manfred I have a present for you and Ilka!” I brought them a bag of all sorts of American chocolates and Ilka looked so happy. She loves her chocolates!!! Had a short chat and a hug and they had to get on their way! I was also able to tell Ilka that I love her hair short! Everyone commented on that yesterday at the horse racing event!

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今日は２００７年１０月２３日火曜日、レッキの第１日目でした。
私たちは６時２０分にホテルを出発してレッキを追いかけました。実は出発が２０分ほど遅れたのですが、そのおかげでホテルを出発直前のマンフレッド・ストール選手とイルカ・ミノール選手に遭遇することができました。私たちはそれから陸別までの途中２０ｋｍほどの道のりの間ペター・ソルベルグ選手、クリス・アトキンソン選手とチェビー・ポンス選手のレッキカーの間に挟まれながら陸別方面と向かいました。それは私たちにとって本当に夢のようなすばらしい時間でした。
陸別ＳＳではヘニング・ソルベルグ選手がレッキ中でした、海外ではレッキを追いかける人が少ないためヘニング・ソルベルグ選手は少し驚いたようでしたが、私たちにとても気さくにサインをしてくれたり記念撮影にも応じてくれました。
また、上斗舞の奥のレッキ車の通過地点でもたくさんのラリーファンがペタ・ソルベルグ選手が来るのを待ちかまえていました。彼は沿道の声援にクラクションを鳴らして応えてくれました。
その後私たちは上利別リフューエルへ向かいました、そこにはたくさんのチームのレッキクルーとサービスクルーが集まっていてペター・ソルベルグ選手、フィル・ミルズ選手、クリス・アトキンソン選手、ステファン・プレボ選手、チェビー・ポンス選手、チェビー・アミーゴ選手もそれぞれのタイミングで昼食休憩を取っていました。すべてのＳＷＲＴの選手がレッキ中の忙しい時間にもかかわらずたくさんのラリーファンのサインに応じたり記念撮影にも応じていました。
その他にも勝田範彦選手がガソリンスタンドで給油中の場面に合ったりでとてもうれしいハプニングがたくさん起きた一日でした。

By T. Tamura & A. Shigematsu
(aka Tamu & Shige)

今日は帯広のばんえい競馬とのコラボレートで、エキシビジョンレース『ラリージャパン記念』が行われました。
１８時にばんえい競馬場に騎乗する選手たちが訪れ、係員にばんえい競馬の特徴である鉄そりの乗り方の説明を受けた後、選手とサポートの騎手が乗ってレースが行われました。
展開はエマ・ギルモア選手が序盤から逃げ切り、その後をイルカ・ミノール選手、さらにグレン・マクニール選手が追い、中盤で大きく出遅れたペター・ソルベルグ選手と終盤でそのペターに巻き返されたマンフレッド・ストール選手の戦いが、集まった観客を盛り上げました。
レースの順位は１位がエマ・ギルモア選手、２位がイルカ・ミノール選手、以下グレン・マクニール選手、ペター・ソルベルグ選手、マンフレッド・ストール選手の順になりました。
その後競走馬との記念撮影などを済ませ、各選手は応援に駆けつけた観客にサインや記念撮影に気軽に応じながら会場をあとにしました。
観客はお目当ての選手にラリーカーのミニカーや自作の旗などにサインをしてもらい、とても満足の様子でした。

By T. Tamura & A. Shigematsu
(aka Tamu & Shige)

Monday 22 October

Today was the first day in Obihiro!
The trip to get here was somewhat a disaster but the fact that I am here, the Legacy is in one piece AND I have already seen Petter make the first part seem better!!!

Back to Sunday…. 21 October

After being up for 36 hours straight I loaded up the Legacy and departed for the 4.5 hour trip for the ferry to Otaru, Hokkaido from Niigata. I left in the wee hours..when the rest of the neighborhood was still sleeping and prayed for my safety during Leg 1! I had team orders from Geir to get the Legacy to the port safely so I gave my best effort!!

I did fine somehow and felt ok.. but I was getting more and more angry as the rain was pouring down on my beautiful Legacy that I washed for 3 hours on Saturday morning!

But I made it to the ferry and was among many local rally cars. They all seemed to be Mitsubishi though! I was parked in the middle among them but my Legacy was the most beautiful of them all! I was really worried how the car would be because they had told us the weather would be very bad and they were securing the cars with blocks. They put the rally cars in the middle for protection I guess?! My friend Hiroyuki had called me to tell me about the bad weather and told me to buy some motion sickness medicine. Since I have never had motion sickness in my life I told him I would not need it. However my last shopping before I left I went ahead and bought some knowing I would never need it.
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We are ready for the 14th event of this season, Rally Japan. 27 stages on gravel roads are waiting to be tested, one of the stages will even be run 5 times. Since we are in the heights of the typhoon season, we can expect rain every day, and night-temperatures below zero. Quite a change from the warm temperatures in Spain and Corsica.

The rally are taking place at the island Hokkaido. The biggest city on the island is Sapporo, and the city Obihiro is hosting the rally. This is the fourth time Japan hosts a rally.

Ceremonial start is on Thursday evening at 1930 and thousands of spectators are expected to be there. In 2006 there were 52.000, while 200.000 were attending the rally during the legs.

Petter and Phil won here in 2004, and ended 7th in 2006. In 2005 they had to retire from the rally on the final stage, after hitting a rock.

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Petter inviterer alle medlemmer i PSSC til medlemstreff under BIL 07 som arrangeres på Norges Varemesse, Lillestrøm.

lørdag 10. november kl 1100. Møt opp hos SUBARU senest kl 1045.

Vi gjør oppmerksom på at det kun er medlemmer som har adgang. Vårt medlemstreff er selvfølgelig gratis, men alle må kjøpe inngangsbillett til selve messa. Nytt i år er at man må melde seg på, slik at vi vet hvor mange som kommer. Dette gjør du ved å sende en mail til

info@pettersolberg.no

Oppgi navn og medlemsnummer og at du ønsker å delta på treffet.

Petter gleder seg til å treffe dere alle, og kanskje har han noen overraskelser på lur!?!

- It has been fun today and the car has been easy to drive. Still more to come on the speed so I didn’t manage to get Latvala, but it was fun fighting with him today.

But the excitement before leg 3 started Saturday evening. After having problems with his gear-box, Duval had to retire and handed his fourth position over to Latvala. Later that evening, Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen was excluded from the rally, when the stewards found his car underweight. Mikkelsen was 11th after fantastic driving on leg 1 and 2. With Duval out, Petter had only 7 seconds between him and Latvala, and a thrilling fight were waiting.

Only 4 stages to go on the final leg of Rallye Corsica, but with two of the stages being the longest for the weekend, 31,8kms. Petter started with third fastest time on SS13 and stole some seconds from Latvala. They continued with almost identical times on SS14, before Petter again took some seconds on SS15. But on the final stage of the rally, Latvala drove in to 3rd fastest time on the stage and secured his 4th position. Petter ended 5th.

Winner of Rally Corsica were Sebastien Loeb, with Finn Marcus Grønholm 2nd. Dani Sordo ended 3rd after having set the fastest time on 3 of todays stages. Henning ended 9th.

Next event is Rally Japan, 26. – 28. October.

Overall classification Rallye de France – Tour de Corse

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen 3.28.31,5
2. Markus Grønholm, Ford +23,7
3. Dani Sordo, Citroen +44,3
4. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford 2.30,5
5. Petter, Subaru +2.42,1
6. Chris, Subaru +3.53,8
7. Jan Kopecky, Skoda +8.02,9
8. Xevi Pons, Subaru +9.34,2
9. Henning, Ford +10.12,2

29. Kollevold, Mitsubishi

When Leg 2 of Rally de France are completed Petter and Phil is in the 6th place. Today has been a competition between Petter and Latvala,and at the end of the day Petter are only 7 seconds behind Latvala.

Petter have struggled with understeer earlier today. However,he reached 3th place on Stage 12,and says that the car works better now. Petter and Phil says that they will do their best tomorrow.

Rally de France continues with 4 more stages on Sunday, with the first car starting at 0853.

Overall classification leg 2
1. Loeb, Citroen
2. Grønholm,Ford+27,5
3. Sordo,Citroen+1.00,6
4. Duval,Citroen+2.21,5
5. Latvala,Ford+2.23,9
6. Petter,Subaru+2.30,9
7. Chris,Subaru+2.49,3
8. Pons,Subaru+4.08,2
9. Kopecky,Skoda +5.52,9
10. Henning, Ford +7.07,6
11. Andreas Mikkelsen,Ford+7.56,1

Stage 1 Monti Rossu-Pila C were cancelled this morning. The Safety Helicopter rapported that it was a lot of spectators out there,and the Race Control decided to cancel it.However,the spectators got the chance to see the drivers anyway,as they came back for SS 4.

When Leg 1 of Rally de France are completed Petter and Phil is in the 5th place. Petter says that he has better grip driving on the old asphalt then on the new asphalt.

Rally de France continues with 6 more stages on Saturday, with the first car starting at 0858.

Overall classification leg 1
1. Loeb, Citroen
2. Grønholm,Ford+4,8
3. Sordo,Citroen+18,5
4. Duval,Citroen+57,8
5. Petter,Subaru+1.03,1
6. Latvala,Ford+1.06,4
7. Chris,Subaru+1.20,6
8. Pons,Subaru+1.58,0
9. Kopecky,Skoda +2.47,4
10. Henning, Ford +3.35,7
11. Andreas Mikkelsen,Ford+3.40,4

Another tarmac-event coming up – Rally Corsica, the birthplace of Napeloen. Only one day resting for the drivers before they start recce on Corsica. The rally is placed in the beautiful capitol Ajaccio. The surface is tarmac, as in Spain, but at the same time very different. The tarmac in Spain in new and smooth, whilst in Corsica it’s more abrasive as the tarmac is older.

The rally is nicknamed the rally of 10.000 corners. It will be pedal to the metal acceleration away from one corner, before braking in for the next after only 100 mtrs. The g-forces generated in the corners are the highest in the WRC, 1,5G! Getting the right line here is crucial – with sheer rock face on one side and steep drops in the other.

The Corsican weather can also be dramatic. Within the hour the beautiful sunshine can change into heavy rain as the warm sea-air meets the cool mountain-breeze.

Petter and Phil won here in 2003, while Sebastien Loeb has won both 2005 and 2006. In 2005 Loeb set the fastest time on every stage.

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- This weekend was a big step forward for us. The team has worked really hard, and we are hoping for even better results next weekend.

Petter maintained to keep his 6th position on the final leg of Rally Spain. Frenchmen Sebastien Loeb was the winner, with his team-colleague Dani Sordo in 2nd. Marcus Grønholm ended third.

The teams are travelling to Corsica tomorrow for the 13th round of the 2007 championship.

Overall classification Rally Spain 2007

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen
2. Dani Sordo, Citroen +13,8
3. Marcus Grønholm, Ford +39,8
4. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +1.25,8
5. Francois Duval, Citroen +2.28,7
6. Petter, Subaru +2.54,1

10. Henning, Ford +10.32,2
12. Thomas Schie +14.55,2

After day 2 of Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada, Petter and Phil keep a steady 6th place over all.

-The car works well and we can keep a consistent pace on every stage. Our feeling is good and we will try to keep the speed on the four remaining stages tomorrow. The stages have been really good today and one of them was like a high way. The weather has also been very nice today allowing a lot of spectators to enjoy the action out there.

Top ten looks exactly as yesterday with the only difference being an increased time gap between the crews. On the 14 stages of day 1 and 2, Sebastien Loeb has used 2 h 30 min 45.5.

Petter and Phil are 2 min 38.8 sec a draft of leader. There are four stages Sunday of a total of 85.64 kms.

Results after day 2

1. Sebestien Loeb – Citroën 2.30.45,5
2. Dani Sordo – Citroën +12,9
3. Marcus Grönholm – Ford +43,6
4. Mikko Hirvonen - Ford +1.12,5
5. Francois Duval – Citroën +1.58,1
6. Petter Solberg – Subaru +2.31,8
7. Jari Matti Lattvala – Ford +2.58,6
8. Chris Atkinson – Subaru +3.27,2
9. Xavier Pons – Subaru +4.19,0
10. Henning Solberg – Ford +8.04,0

12. Thomas Schie - Ford +11.52,4
25. Eivind Brynildsen
32. Andreas Mikkelsen