Eileen, an Irish member of PSSC, will send us her reports during the rally-weekend.

We got to meet with petter at service, he signed nora my huge norwegian flag, and i gave him his birthday card and his irish whiskey!! Harold also had some chocolates from holland spelling his name. He gave me a big hug - he he - and said he will try his very best this weekend… Also met thomas and had to tell him not to be drinking the whiskey! Ha ha now we are going home a little while before going on to belfast.. Watch out on tv, for nora, the biggest flag in ireland!

Eileen

Petter ended with 7th fastest time on today’s shakedown in Ireland. Grønholm were fastest, while Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen set the 4th fastest time.

-The stages are fast and tricky. Small bumps in the roads make the narrow stages difficult in high speed. Phil has done many rallies here, but it is the first time for me competing in Ireland. But as usual – we are going for the podium, Petter said before he left for Belfast and tonight’s superspecial.

SSS1 starts at 1900pm.

Shakedown-times

1.Grønholm 1.37,3
2.Chris 1.38,3
3.Hirvonen 1.38,7
4.Mikkelsen 1.39,2
5.Loeb 1.39,6
6.Sordo 1.40,0
7.Petter 1.40,3
8.Wilson 1.40,7
9.Wilks 1.40,9
10.Henning 1.41,1
11.Latvala 1.41,4
12.Stohl 1.41,6
13.Pons 1.42,9
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For the first time Ireland is hosting a WRC-event. Rally Ireland starts with a superspecial in Belfast Thursday, 15. November. The drivers started their recce today. 90 cars are on the entrylist and since this is a new event for all WRC-drivers, we might as well see a local driver fighting in the lead. Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen is well known on the roads surrounding Sligo, and we expect him to be pushing from the start. Henning Solbergs codriver this weekend will be Göran Bergström, as Cato Menkerud is home with his wife, waiting for their 2nd child to be born.

Petter is struggeling with sinusitis, but is hoping to get better before the weekend, eating c-vitamins and carlic.

Markus Grønholm is leading the championship going into this weekend, but only 4 points ahead of Sebastien Loeb. Petter is in 5th place, 4 points ahead of Henning who is 6th.

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Lørdag 10. november var det klart for årets medlemstreff i PSSC.

Det var en smilende og fornøyd Petter som ønsket velkommen til årets medlemstreff. Med det vanlige glimtet i øyet og humøret på plass innledet han medlemstreffet med å vise klipp fra filmen om han som er under produksjon. Med morsomme kommentarer fra hovedpersonen selv fikk alle et innblikk i noe av det som foregår i hans liv utenfor rally-kjøringen. Etter filmen snakket Petter åpenhjertig om hvordan det har vært å være rally-sjåfør den siste tiden og planene framover, og han svarte villig på alle spørsmål med medlemmene. Som en avslutning takket Petter alle for den støtten han får gjennom supporterklubben, understreket hvor viktig denne støtten er for han - og at han virkelig hadde gledet seg til årets medlemstreff.

Så var tiden kommet for autografer, bilder og Petter delte ut gaver til alle som var tilstede.

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We are getting close to end of the 2007 WRC season, and only two more rounds two go –Ireland and Wales. 15. – 18. November the action takes place on tarmac in Ireland.

The rally is based in Sligo town, however rally organisers have arranged for the 1st stage, the super special stage to be held at Stormont in Belfast. The rally organisers are providing transport from Sligo to Belfast before the start and back again after the first stage. Official crew plus one person from each team are invited to fly there and back; additional people will use a coach arranged by the organisers; trucks will transport the rally cars. The drive from Sligo to Belfast will probably take nearly three hours as traffic is expected to be hectic!!

Twenty one countries are represented on the 90 car Rally Ireland entry list, with competitors coming from as far as Qatar, Japan and of course, NORWAY. Plus an impressive entry of 53 competitors from the island of Ireland, north and south. The only female driver taking part is Emma McKinstry from Banbridge, County Down ,a daughter of Irish rally legend Kenny McKinstry. The three members of the MacHale family are also set to make an impression as father Austin and sons Gareth and Aaron all take to the roads in their Ford Focus WRC cars.

Rally Ireland will be a challenging rally due to the uniqueness of the road surface. It is the 5th asphalt rally of the 2007 championship, but the narrow twisty bumpy surface, along with the unpredictable weather, will take some competitors by surprise!!

The meeting will be held at Hotel Arena, next to Norges Varemesse in Lillestrøm. Please be in the reception area before 1100 and follow signs to “Akershus” conferencroom and Subaru Norway.

A lot of people and cars will be in the area this morning, so be there early.

Welcome!

Best regards
PSSC Petter Solberg supporters club

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!?!