It’s a Citroen XsaraSunday, January 25th, 2009
I can now confirm that we will start Rally Norway in an Citroen Xsara 2006 model.
A lot has to organized before we come to Hamar. Information regarding the team, who will run the car and sponsors will be announced at a press conferance before Rally Norway.
Petter Solberg
2009-01-25
Congratulations,Petter!Clever choise
2009-01-25
Congratulations! I’m glad you’re back this event. Good luck and have fun!
Edwin
2009-01-25
Great to see you again in a rally car !!!
What a fun challenge with this Xsara !
2009-01-25
that’s gonna be some getting used to…. Petter in a Citroën
2009-01-25
Jeg håper virkelig at dette går bra Petter, forhåpleligvis så er bilen god nok.
Du er i allfall god nok til og vinne rally norway.
Dette skal bli spennende.
2009-01-25
I think it is a shame that one of the two world champion drivers can only drive a 2006 WRC car. But in spite of this, I whis the best from Hungary! Go boys!!!!
2009-01-25
Good to see you smiling again,Petter!!
I don’t think I can wait until that press conference.;)
Are you running with that Xsara for whole season??
Lots of luck!!
2009-01-25
i am pessimistic of the opportunity you have to fight on front compred to c4s and focuses.
It would be better to approch Malcolm or Quesnel.
Pray to not have a season like Manfred’s 2007. Better stay home instead.
2009-01-25
GRATULERER!!!
Ønsker deg lykke til i Xsara!
Er det noen fysiske mÃ¥l som gir C4 noen fordeler, eller kan Xsara’en teoretisk bli like god? De som utvikler bilene konsentrerer seg vel ogsÃ¥ om andre egenskaper enn de som gir fordeler i rally, eller? HÃ¥per du fÃ¥r et godt forhold til bilen. Da vet vi du kan bli best! Lykke til!
2009-01-25
great news petter
really i am very happy to that
good luck petter
2009-01-25
gratulerer, håper det blir gull med denne bilen petter!!
2009-01-25
Høres bra ut Petter! Har venta mange Ã¥r nÃ¥ pÃ¥ att du skulle se lyset og komme deg ut av denne Subaruen.. SÃ¥ Gratulere med det!! tross vanskelige omstendigheter.. Men nÃ¥ er jeg sinnsykt spent pÃ¥ Ã¥ se deg kjøre en annen bil.. Gleder meg som en unge.. Tror vi fÃ¥r se deg tilbake i storform rimelig snart! Vi veit hva du er god for. tilbake “pÃ¥ kanten”.. Knive pÃ¥ sekundene. Petter the underdog.. Returns!
Xsara 2006 Rocker!
2009-01-26
Could it be a T412 chasis? ex-Rautenbach?
2009-01-26
..det er klart, du kler godt blått, men jeg bryr meg ikke om hvilken bil du kjører, sålenge det er en vinnerbil, og ikke en Subaru
. Jeg vil se gamle Petter kjøre.. sånn som bare du kan.. Glemmer aldri Wales 2003.. siste etappe.. Eller Ouninpohja 2004. Herregud mann.. Du er bare sinnsykt rå når du er på hugget!
2009-01-26
Congrats Peter, can’t wait to see you in action again.
2009-01-26
Anyway We are very happy to hear your choice.(I hope Subaru comes back on WRC)
Zenkai Go!
2009-01-26
Good to have you back in a car but I am sad that the car is sooooo old. Unfortunately, I do not expect to see you in the top eight in Norway. However,I would dearly love to have to eat my words! For a World Champion and a man of your ability it would be great to see you in a 08 car or 07 even where you could challenge Seb. I hope you get an upgrade soon.
Best wishes
T
2009-01-26
hi petter, happy to have u back to WRC war. Will still continue to support you on whichever car that you choose to drive.However, i would certainly to pray for subaru to be backed to WRC battles and get you in the scooby. Only then, WRC will becoming more intractive..
Anyway wishes you a best of luck….
2009-01-26
Hi Petter I dont know what to say about the xsara but i might think it not comp against 2009 cars, but i hope u prove me wrong. Anyway i wish u the best of luck and im happy to hear that u r back in business with rally again. I hope u will show everyone what driver u are in Rally Norway even that is u first rally in that new car.
Stram wire Petter……
2009-01-26
Hi, Petter! It’s nice to see You back in WRC. Citroen it sounds competitive, but will it be Xsara I don’t know. Anyway I wish You all the luck, to score some good points in home rally and to feel support from Your fans and sponsors.
2009-01-26
I’m definately going to have to change my name now! But not to Citroennut!!
Seriously whatever you drive Petter enjoy it get that confidence back get that smile back and have fun!!!
Let us know the colour scheme of the new car or I’m going to be cheering on Loeb!
Kate
2009-01-26
Gratulerer med en kjempebil! Du veit hva du har sloss mot, så du veit potensialet. Den er ihvertfall bedre enn forrige generasjon Subaru, på mange områder. Lykke til, og kjør som vi veit du kan.
2009-01-26
I’m sure the flare and passion will still be the same despite the change of car! Hope it all goes well!
Simon
2009-01-26
Det är helt klart att han inte är sÃ¥ het pÃ¥ marknaden….Atkinson fick ju kontrakt redan dagen efter de va slut med Subaru….Petter fÃ¥r köra en gamal citroen……trÃ¥kigt men sant
2009-01-26
Gasen i botten petter!!!!
De e ju en inkörd bil som e van vid att åka fort!!!!!
2009-01-26
[...] Petter Solberg ha confirmado el rumor y participará con un Citroen Xsara WRC en el Rallye de Noruega. El piloto dará más información sobre los patrocinadores y el equipo en una rueda de prensa antes de la prueba de su país. [...]
2009-01-26
why a citroen xsara? i know its a good car and u will be like atkinson but why dont you join adapta? thats the decision i would have thought would of been the best, because its subaru and there cars are run by prodrive and they are norwegian team!
2009-01-26
Szia.
Magyarországrol Ãrok, mint itteni nagy szurkolód.
örülök hogy sikerült kocsit szerezni.érdekes verseny lessz Loeb C4WRC-Sordo C4WRC- Chris Atkinson C4WRC-és te egy Citroen Xsara WRC-vel indulsz.most legalább kiderül mennyivel jobb a Citroen.Remélem sikerül versenybe lenned!
good luck!
2009-01-26
Greetings from Estonia,
its very nice to see that you are back in action in Rally Norway. I hope that you can get podium finish because Xsara isn`t so bad car. I belive that you can still drive fast and win rallys
.
Good luck.
2009-01-26
Petter.
Why did you lie a few weeks ago about the xsara. Its ironic now that that is what you are about to drive. It will prob be as good as the subaru anyway. I think you wasted time too. Atko beat you to a good drive and fair play to him. Your day has come and gone my friend.
2009-01-26
I cant believe that you are going to be driving a Xsara, possibly my favorite car of all rallies! Are you going to ber with Citroen the whole year…are you going to be competing for Manufacturers PTS? how does this work…..Also how does any other team seriously think they can win that title…considering everyone has come to Citroen in the last 2 months
2009-01-26
Best of Luck Petter!!!
2009-01-26
Many congratulations petter, sorry i cant make it to see you in Hamar this year. I usually come out to see you with John Mills but with Subaru out that probably wont be possible. Good luck and heres to many more podiums for you and phil. best wishes to Pernilla and Oliver too.
Thanks for all the great times over the last few years. quality!
Chris (CJ)
2009-01-26
Gratulerer! Blir bra dette! Er disse to alt av bilder som er tatt fra hele testen?
2009-01-26
spain love you petter, we gone to see you in germany’s rallye and you are a fantastic person and yor brother too, we hope that we see you at portugal rally, very very good luck petter, kisses from spain
2009-01-26
I wish you the best with the xsara.
2009-01-26
Well done gentleman. What would i give to see you and Phil on the top step looking down on Seb who only managed to finish third…..!!!!!
Come on dig deep and go kick his French Candy Ass…….!!! Ohh by the way you look quite fetching in Red and White…??
2009-01-26
I would have preferred a C4, but I’m sure you got the best possible car that was available. Good luck with the new car and enjoy the season!
2009-01-26
have fun with the xsara. why not drive a couple of rounds in the irc also this season. skoda is looks good this year and it would help you prepair well for 2010.
2009-01-26
well done petter!
i know it has been a hard time but you needed to get out of that subaru so that you can become world champion again!
you still have it in you, you just need the right car so here we go again! everyone will support you no matter what you drive.
now lets stick it to the big guns like the good old days!
2009-01-26
Morro med litt forandring, vel….Petter
Når bilen er såpass gammel kan du kanskje kjøre med den gamle typen diff da?!
I så fall ; en kanonfordel
2009-01-26
Ford, Citroen, who cares as long as you are there Petter, we’ll all be happy…
All the best for the year, I’m sure we’ll be seeing you at the front very soon
2009-01-27
go for it petter!,i know the cars not going to be at the same level as loeb.but if anyone can cause a stir,its you!!!.show them all whos number one petter!!.
2009-01-27
its going to be strange not seeing you driving a subaru, but either way your can do it. there is another championship with your name on it. show them what you can do.
2009-01-27
Godt at du har fått deg bil du kan kjøre løp med. Du får kjøre 90% på fredag, 100 % lørdag og så kjører du 110% på søndag og kjører i fra hele wrc eliten. Lykke til, har troen på at du finner igjen god formen ganske snart.
2009-01-27
Great that you still are at WRC!
Best wishes!
A.
2009-01-27
Best of luck to you and Phil. Rally of Norway needs Petter Solberg even if you are racing a Citroen 2CV!
2009-01-27
good luck Petter.all the best my friend.i hope to you and Phil have a great season and i hope you too can beat loeb!!enough titles for him.hope to see you in acropolis too.love from greece
2009-01-27
Great news.Best of Luck with your plans.Pity you were not able to do Rally Ireland it wont be the same No Petter no Subaru.
2009-01-27
it is not a good chose i hate this car!!!!!!!!!
the best car is only subaru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????
2009-01-27
So “Chris” big man eh, why come on here to give Petter grief?
First of all Petter did not “lie” about buying a xsara, he simply stated that nothing was confirmed / decided about what car he would drive, so you can take that back.
Secondly, do you know all the details of all the avenues that Petter went down to get something sorted for this season? Do you know details of his contact with the citroen team? Who knows if he actually was in contact with them at all. WE, the true fans on this website dont know all the details, and i can be sure as hell that you dont. So wheres your proof that Atko “beat” Petter to a seat at citroen?
People like you do my tits in. Some day and i hope that day comes soon, you will be made to eat your words, and i would actually love to be able to ram them down your throat!!!!!
Show some respect please.
2009-01-27
I understand your choice.You looks tired. You did best!! I hope you will get more chance and you might come Japan for driving new subaru. Good luck!
2009-01-27
Very brave decision Petter! Not many would have choosen the route you’re going now, but I think it makes sense. All the best for 2009 and please, show them it can be done without being a works driver!!
2009-01-27
go with ford focus wrc 2008 not old citroen
2009-01-27
Why is everyone cribbing about the Xsara? Petter has only gone and picked up one of the best WRC Cars ever made. It makes perfect sense, get a feel for the Xsara and move up to the C4 mid season, he can at least establish a baseline performance in Norway now knowing that all eyes will be on his car giving Sponsors ultimate coverage regardless of leaderboard position, then move onto a more advanced car later on. Petter has done a great deal from what I can see. Dont know if you read this Petter but best wishes for 2009, who wants to see a BP Ford Abu Dhabi blah blah etc etc anyway? Not us
You’re the only one to kick a bit of life into the WRC in 09′ fair play to you. Best wishes to Pernilla & Oliver also.
Regards, John.
2009-01-27
vai petter!!!!you are the best pilot in the wrc!!!!!petter go!!!!!!
2009-01-27
Well said, Eileen. I’m sure that Atko did not”beat” Petter to a drive in the Citroen Junior Team. Petter had his reasons for not wanting to join that team. Well done Petter for getting together your own outfit….roll on Norway……..
2009-01-27
Get in you have made us happy to now you will be there good luck
2009-01-27
I’m Norwegian, but i write this in english..
For those of you following the development of Petter and Chris after the sad news from Subaru, you would all know that Petter couldn’t sign with any team at the point in time where Chris signed for Citroen Junior Team.
He was still employed by Subaru, and subaru management wouldn’t have been very impressed with Petter if he had signed with Citroen when he was employed by Subaru.
And of course i mean that Petter was employed by the Fuji Heavy Corp., and not SWRT/Prodrive as Chris was.
Stating that Chris somehow would have greater marked value that Petter, is bullshit, and you all know it.
Og til deg, Petter:
Hvis Xsara er det beste du kan få nå, så skal du selvsagt velge det!
Vi er alle bare så utrolig glade for at du kommer til å kjøre Rally Norway.
Om du blir konkuransedyktig i en Xsara eller ikke, vil tiden vise, men jeg VET at du kommer til å gjøre ditt aller beste både for oss supportere, og dine samarbeidspartnere.
Lykke til i Rally Norway:)
2009-01-28
bueno petter te deseo lo mejor para este año y espero que puedas demostrarle a muchos que con un coche del 2006 les podes pelear de igual a igual a los pilotos oficiales que muchos ni se merecen estar en un coche oficial,mucha suerte para tiy tu hemano henning.
un abrazo
golo
argentina
2009-01-28
[...] It turns out that Petter will be racing in a Citroen Xsara in the upcoming Rally Norway. That’s some pretty exciting news, since it will be the first non Subaru he has competed in since the year 2000. Almost a decade ago. [...]
2009-01-28
I don’t care what car Petter drives…I’m just glad that he will be competing in Rally Norway…..and let’s remember we know that Petter and Phil will have positive mental attitude and give 110%! I think the rally will be so exciting ‘cos Petter puts excitement into rallying. Wishing Petter and Phil all the very best for Norway and the rest of the season. I will always be a Petter supporter!
2009-01-28
Well said jan ove… the annoying thing is that this chris guy who pi*£ed me off is probably a one time visitor to this website…
But lets not let one bad egg spoil the party… Go PETTER!
2009-01-28
Dear Petter,
It is just great that you will participate the WRC this season. All the fans understand that you work very hard to make this decision.
I really wish you will enjoy driving Xsara, and hope your bright future!! Good luck!!!
KT
2009-01-28
it’s good news Peter!!
WRC without Peter is like food without salt,as we say in GREECE(HELLAS)!!
Waiting to see you ride the roads again.
2009-01-28
eileen.
I see from your comments that you are p*%sed off with me. Well i dont really give a sh*t3. For your information, i am not a 1 time visitor to this site. In fact i check out almost all rallying websites everyday for up to date news. In fact i am a huge rally fan. I, like you, am entitled to my opinion and i believe that Atko is a better prospect for all manufactuers to get results. Sure, petter might get them some publicity but he wont get results. Im not saying he got lucky in ‘03 but he didnt really follow up, did he? His best days are indeed behind him and maybe his best days were never good enough???
Eileen, i think you maybe misguided and dillusional.
2009-01-28
ha ha ha ha. I think thats exactly what you are, MY FRIEND!
2009-01-28
Hienoa Petteri että sait kaluston järjestettyä.
Neste-ralli, panosta siihen.
2009-01-28
Glad to hear Petter, I look forward to seeing how you and Phil do in Norway.
The Xsara WRC’s not a bad car if even a few years outdated, so best of luck!
2009-01-28
In response to Chris’ comments…rumours have it that Loeb put a stop to Petter joining Citroen
2009-01-28
hmmmm….
2009-01-28
I’ve heard the same thing Amanda about Loeb blocking Petter from driving a C4
2009-01-28
Petter: please don’t paint that car in red XDXD
It would look great in blue.Maybe painted with your colours: blue, white and grey??
Is Microsoft still one of your sponsors? I hope so.
About this conversation of Petter-Atko-Loeb… I think it’s very rude from “chris” to write this kind of things in Petter’s blog. I think we should ignore this kind of comments. All blogs have their trolls, and Petter’s has one now.
Looking forward to that press conference,Petter.
2009-01-29
Im only expressing my opinion on this blog. Is that not what a blog is for. A Healthy Discussion!!
Any way, i doubt if Loeb blocked petter from driving the C4. What has he got to gain. I mean the C4 has been built around Loeb and i doubt anyone else could achieve the results he has got in that car. Also, i bet Loeb would love some competition. He is going to get bored with WRC very soon. There is nothing more for him to achieve.
2009-01-29
And what about doing this year an IRC rallye?
2009-01-31
is phil staying with u in the citroen??
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2009-02-01
Petter – it will be good to see you back in action again! I have been a loyal fan of yours since Tommi joined Subaru. Thanks for all of the excitement over the years! IRC, WRC, F1 – whatever you race, I’ll be cheering for you! Best of luck to you in Norway and in the future – take care!
2009-02-01
Hello Mr. Solberg.
This i a clever choice and i congratulate you with the choice of a car.
I`m looking foreward to se you in action in the car in rally norway and i wish the best of luck in your effort in the wrc rally this year, i know that the results are coming in 2009.
Best of luck!
Regards
Roger Evensen
2009-02-02
http://www.ralli.net/rnet/modules/4nAlbum/album/antero/2009.01.30_Pette.jpg
it says: ” ..and they said that this would be almost the newest model… thank god this is faster than subaru!”
2009-02-02
It would be wrong for Petter to drive in a junior team, like Atkinson. Atkinson is under 30, Petter is over 30 years old( I think even Atkinson is too old for a junior team).
We all know that Petter can handle a car, and get the best out of it. And on snow, it isnt always that the most powerful car will win.
SÃ¥ kjør som rakker’n!!!!
2009-02-02
Good luck Petter!
2009-02-09
To chris, did he not follow up in 04 and 05? he was top 3 at the end of season both years…
2009-02-10
Run Petter run!!!
It is a sign that we ride!!!
We follow you always…you are the star, not the car!
Not problem if it is Citroen Xsara or Proton Satria S2000!
I would like see you smiling and driving one car!
Go-go-go-Petter and never give up!
With love.
Elda from Argentina.
2009-02-27
You are the best good luck to your new team!!!
2009-04-11
Wish you the best of luck and a fine performance for this season….
2009-10-06
peter si mojim veeelkim vzorom si fakt super jazdec a hrozne sa mi paci tvoje odhodlanie ktomuto sportu! ja jazdim 5 rokou autokros a hrozne by so mchcel skusit rally aj ked len europske..ale chcel by som byt taki jazdec ako ty si fakt pan pretekar!