March « 2009 « Petter Solberg

Official news, Rally Portugal | Mon 30th 2009

Ready for Rally Portugal

Petter Solberg and Phil Mills. Photo Tony Welam.

This week we are heading to Portugal, for the fourth event this year. Rally Portugal is Petters third rally this season, and he is looking forward to the weekend.

- Rally Portugal is a tough rally and it will be exciting to see how fast we can go here. We were fast in Cyprus, and with even more time with the car I hope we can set some good splits.

Rally Portugal was back on the calendar in 2007, for the first time since 2000. Sebastien Loeb won in 2007 and Petter ended second. A total of 18 gravel stages will be completed during the weekend, and it all starts with a super special at the Algarve Stadium Thursday afternoon. 75 entrants are on the entry list, one of them is Marcus Grønholm who will drive a Subaru for Prodrive this event.

After the podium at Cyprus two weeks ago, Petter flew directly home to Monte Carlo, and ended up in bed for the next week. A really tough stomach-virus knocked him out of business.

- I had a lot of things scheduled for that week; interviews, tv-shows and an event together with my main sponsor Johs Lunde. I had to cancel them all and stay in bed. Feeling a lot better now, and I hope to stay well for some time!

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Blog | Wed 25th 2009

Live From The Field

… Tro det eller ei, men nå er faktisk Henning og jeg i gang med å bytte en front rute. Om vi klarte det? Det kan dere se på Tv2 sporten i kveld!

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Blog | Wed 25th 2009

Live From The Field

Nå begynner formen å komme seg, og i dag er første dag på jobb etter Kypros, og jeg starter med åpning av ny Hurtigruta avdeling i Sandvika. En av de du kan treffe der framover er Marius, han kan det med å bytte ruter. Henning og jeg er der nå utover ettermiddagen, så velkommen innom!

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Official news | Wed 18th 2009

Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally

Petter Solberg World Rally Team receives the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award, Cyprus 2009. Photo Tony Welam.

On the final day of Rally Cyprus, The Petter Solberg World Rally Team were awarded ”The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award” for its performance during the Cyprus Rally.

According to wrc.com the award is designed to acknowledge a positive contribution to the WRC and recognises parties demonstrating respect, innovation, integrity and teamwork. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority felt the tremendous effort put in by the 11-strong Petter Solberg World Rally Team made them worthy winners.

- I have the best team ever, Petter says. Everyone has been working flat out and shown a great passion for what they are doing. This award is for the whole team!

With this 3rd place at Cyprus, Petter proved that you can go a long way with only a small team, sponsors and a 2001 car.

Petter Solberg World Rally Team receives the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award, Cyprus 2009. Photo Ralph Hardwick.

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Podcast | Wed 18th 2009

Total Rally Petter Solberg

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Blog | Tue 17th 2009

Live From The Field

This is Petter today, in his bed with stomach pain and a fever. He was supposed to have an interview with AutoHebdo today, and then fly to Paris to attend at a FIA meeting regarding the future of the WRC. Instead he ended up in bed.

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Official news, Rally Kypros | Sun 15th 2009

An impressive 3rd at Cyprus

At the podium, Cyprus 2009. Photo Ralph Hardwick.

- This is unbelievable! I cannot describe the feeling I had when I was standing on the podium today. I mean, third place with a private team in a private car! The guys in the team are so good, they have been working flat out to get the car ready for the rally, and of course during the rally. They all are amazing. And also a big thanks you to all my sponsors and Citroen. Notting of this would be possible without you!

After a thrilling weekend, Petter and Phil could drive up on the podium to receive their 3rd place award at Cyprus. It all started with some good splits on Friday, and continued with two knock-out stage wins on Saturday afternoon. They started Sunday in fourth position, but already on the first stage they passed Sordo on the final classification and came third. The last time someone made it to the podium as a privateer with his own car, was when Malcolm Wilson did it in 1993.

The Petter Solberg World Rally Team was also honored with ”The Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally Award” for its good work at Cyprus.

The winner of Rally Cyprus is Sebastien Loeb, who today took his 50 WRC win. Mikko Hirvonen ended second. Henning Solberg had to retire from the rally on Friday, after a collision on the roadsection. He did compete under SuperRally regulations Saturday and Sunday.

Next event is Rally Portugal, 2. – 5. April 2009.

Overall classification Rally Cyprus 2009

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen

2. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +27,2

3. Petter, Citroen +1.49,4

4. Dani Sordo, Citroen +2.26,3

5. Matthew Wilson, Ford +6.41,0

6. Conrad Rautenbach, Citroen +11.11,9

7. Federico Villagra, Ford +13.18,5

8. Khalid Al Qassimi, Ford +19.54,9

The Abu Dhabi Award. Cyprus 2009. Photo Tony Welam.

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