Petter with another podium
The final day of Rally Sardinia started off as a thriller, but ended with pure joy. After a real fight with Sebastien Loeb on the Sunday stages, Petter made it to the podium and Loeb ended 4th. Petter started the day with 2,2 seconds lead on Loeb, and had a 2,3 seconds lead after the morning loop of stages. - This is proper rally, you know, Petter said when he arrived in the servicepark for the midday service. To be able to fight and push for good times in this way, this is what rally really is about. I have enjoyed every second of it.
On the final three stages, the battle kept on, but Loeb finally managed to pass Petter on the overall classification. - We can push real hard when the temperature is not so high, but when we came back after service, it was a lot warmer on the stages and we lost a lot of power and were not able to push as hard as we wanted to. But I can promise you, we were constantly on the limit, chasing for seconds.
When leaving the servicepark for the official finish ceremony in Porto Cervo, we were told by the stewards that Loeb got two minutes penalty with regard to his puncture on Saturday. After Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena had changed the tyre, inboard camera shows that Daniel Elena didn’t fasten his seat belt, according to the regulation.
- Rally Sardinia has been a good event for me and for the whole team. We have been fast many times, and today’s third makes up for the one we lost in Argentina. Too bad for Loeb, but there is nothing I can do about that.
Jari Matti Latvala won Rally Sardinia, with his team-mate Mikko Hirvonen on second place. Next event is the Acropolis Rally in Greece, 12 – 14 June.
Overall classification, Rally Sardinia 2009
1. Jari Matti Latvala, Ford
2. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +29,4
3. Petter, Citroen +1.57,6
4. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen +3.43,7
5. Evgeny Novikov, Citroen +5.11,8
6. Matthew Wilson, Ford +7.29,3
7. Mads Østberg, Subaru +13.20,6
8. Henning, Ford +13.21,2
Absolutely awesome. its been a while comming with the new team but you guys and girls most definitely deserve your podium! i’m so happy for you all as your persistance has payed off and you should all enjoy the champange and parties! I’m so excited i could burst!!
Never ever ever give up! and this proves it!
Well Done
Matt
Very nice Petter, congratulation for 3rd place
PSWRT absolut amazing, I´m so happy !!
Gooo Petter Gooo!!!!
Well deserved third place, pay back for all the efforts of the team. You beat all the other Citreon’s correct me if I am wrong but is it only one more Focus to beat this season. Petter & Phil keep on doing what you are doing congratulations.
I am happy you hammered down the cheater loeb who disgraced the fans by his friday tactics..
keep on pushing…may be citroen will hire you to replace him.
COOOONGRATULATIOOOOONS\(^-^)/~~~
Petter,you really great job!
of couse,Phil you great too!
I’m sorry to about Seb….But,honestly I think….
“YES!!! How Lucky!!!”
You said “old car is not bad”
I thinking If you driving new car….
Can you driving more than farster?!?!
I’m so happy tonight:D
Many thanks!Petter,Phil and PSWRT♪(´ε｀ )
XXX from Japan
Excellent result … well done Petter. You have been my hero for the past 11 years and I just hope that planning for 2010 is underway. The WRC without you and Phil would be a terribly boring and poorer place. Maybe a C4?
Cheers
Nick from MK in UK
great result Petter,Phil,Team Solberg
But You are almost 2 min behind the winner.
Is it any more you can do whit the Car.
or is it on the limit of what it can do.
Is there any cance you can get the C4?
Maybe C4 in Greese!!!!!
Awsome guys! A great result, very well driven.
Regards
T
UNBELIBLE!!!!!!!!
PRIVATE TEAM WON A OFICIAL……. 2 times….. whit old car….. its a really really umbelible, PSWRT make history…. your´s the best
Congratulation PSWRT Gresse here we come
Helt konge!
Ta med alle erfaringer til Hellas, så slår du resten av gutta der.
Gratulerer!!
Hi!Petter!
You are good job!!
I am glad to get you are podeum again!!
C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N !!!!!!!!!
dear Petter and Phil!!!!!!!I´m so proud of you!!!!
MANY MANY GREETINGS TO ALL THE TEAM!!!!!
We have an hero fighting and fighting each rally for find a podium and you found it today!!!!
Great man!!!YOU ARE THE BEST! Nobody is like you!
You are only one! Unique!
Enjoy this moment, it is all yours because you won it!Wonderful moment, thanks a lot for all the adrenaline that you put every rally in me!!!
I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu guys!!!!!
Gratulerer med dagen.(sorry if it is wrong)
Love
PETTER, DU ER HELT KONGE!!!!!!!! GRATULERER MED 3.PLASSEN!!!
Stor klem fra
Thomas 9 år.
Ps. Hvor er det mulig å få kjøpt en Petter Solberg caps? Mamma sier at jeg ikke får lov og gå med lua mer nå, men hun vil kjøpe en caps til meg om det er å få kjøpt.
Hi Petter!
Great! You showed your driving technique is No.1 !
I’m really happy for you !
Well said Rocky above. Just look at the times. Almost 2 mins off the lead and if Seb hadnt trouble, petter sould not have had a sniff of 3rd or 4th if Sordo’s turbo was right. All in all, i dont think the improvements to the car made much difference. Then again, in fairness to petter, Citroen are hardly going to let the xsara show up the C4′s
Hi Petter and Phil
Great job in Sardinia. You deserved to be on the podium. I’m so happy for you and, in my opinion, if you can get an C4, you’d have more chance to win rallies. Good Lucck from my heart!!!
a fan form Romania
Congrats.
Great job.
Good. I hope you get the bigger radiator in Greece
Just push it. 
Good luck next time too. 
I see in norwegen news that maybe the car will be Ford focus that can be great.
just hope you dont take peugot.(Trouble)
hope you tell us when you make your mind..
GO PETTER AND PHIL GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GODD LUCK
This was a great weekend,go for it .YOU NEVER GIVE UP TO THE END.That is the way it is.
Very nice Petter, congratulation for 3rd place. Goooooo PETTER&PHIL!!!!
A ROMANIA fan
petter………..what i must say today?
really i am very very happy i flying …
congratulation for 3rd place petter
congratulation for 3rd place petter
congratulation for 3rd place petter
congratulation for 3rd place petter
congratulation for 3rd place petter
YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!
Great Petter! Another podium… It’s incredible with an old car…
and now…a victory….
by Dany Mero…Rigosa
Well done again – an absolutely fantastic drive, and without a steering problem you would have beaten Loeb on Day 3 before his penalty.
If you can do this in a Xsara, imagine you in a C4 or Focus. The only person who could challenge Loeb for champion is you.
Congrats
congratulation for 3rd place the efforts of the hole team
Goran larsson
http://www.goran-motorsport.com
Congratulations for the 3rd position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one could believe that a private team got the podium? You really did a great job, and names of both you and your team would be in memories of all people.
I expect you can get better positions in next stages.
Thanks a lot for dreams!
GO PETTER GO!!!!!!!
Konge, håper du gjør det like bara om ikke enda bedre i hellas!!!:D
Grattis:P
i hear petter is considerin a switch to a 307? i dont think petter should change coz if u remember all the problems gronholm had in 2004 and 2005 the xsara is meant to be the most reliable wrc car ever and its the world champions car! but on the other hand for peugeot fans it would be great! as a peugeot fan i drive a 206 for the reason it was a wrc car, it would be great to see petter drive a 206 instead of a 307
“The only person who could challenge Loeb for championship is YOU”…I think like Ian….you are the only one! You have a tiger inside you!
Never give up!
Petter, not telling you what to do, but it seems Prodrive is still wanting to campaign the up-to-date Impreza and Marcus did give everyone a run for their money in Portugal.
My theory is if you can make a slow car go fast, think of what you can do when you get into a fast car.
Such a shame the Xsara is not faster.. It’s so reliable. Really hope you find a good solution. We want to see you in a C4. And if they give you a C4 now, they have to map it so it’s faster than your old Xsara..
If not, it’s obvious that they are restricting it.
petter i think you should get a impreza! if you cant get the new 1 get the impreza you drove in 2005 or 2005! that would be brilliant. i am a peugeot fan and drive a peugeot but remember all the problems gronholm had with the 307! you dont want that do you?
3rd, not bad…. Just make sure (whatever car you drive then) that you and Phil top the podium here, at the best rally in the world, WALES!
GREAT JO PSWRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you guys and girls ROCK!!!!
Yay Petter!!! Go for it lad! Really happy to see you on the podium, you are clearly a better driver than the works teams give you credit for. May your car be as reliable for the rest of the season as it has been up to now. Hats off to your entire team. See you in Wales….
Pete, Cleethorpes, England
I tell you before start of loelle, remember?..
You will go in the podium!
I see you very well in every day in sardegna, and with an official car I sure that you go to the win!
Sorry for my english, and thank you for the emotion!
Brilliant result in sardinia petter
you are my best rally driver and my role model
Well done
I hear you are going to do the next rally in a 307???
I will be there to cheer for you and your team in Wales but yill then goodbye
Remarkable;))
Petter & Phil you are trully & brave people. Of course TEAM did well!! Without majour problems & faults & without tactics you deserved this podium.
Petter do not relax. Keep focus at Greece. 110% finish. Please try to catch points as much as you can. In drivers championship Henning & Jari Matti are so close..
Good Luck!!
Just returned fron Sardinia where we took additional days holiday after the rally. Petter told me he reads all the comments on this website….so I want to say a fantastic podium and well deserved. We had the chance to be VIP guests at PSWRT after shakedown and I want to thank Pernilla, Petter and Phil for taking the time and effort in welcoming us. I have some great photos! Hope to see you again this year in Wales! As always I am always wishing you and Phil the best!…and I agree with Ian’s previous comment!