Petter Solberg World Rally Team wish you all a happy CHRISTMAS and all the best for 2011!

New season – new cars

We have just finished the 2010 season, with a great result for PSWRT, but the 2011 season is not far away. Along with the new season are also new cars. The WRC car as we know it today is history, a brand new car is waiting.

The most important change is that we will go from todays 2 ltr engine and to a 1,6 ltr engine and the restrictor goes from 34 mm to 33 mm. Gear box design will be the same for all the cars and they will not have a centre differential. The car it self can be smaller; 3,9 mtrs instead of 4,2 mtrs. Minimum weight changes from 1230kg til 1200kg. Engine, elecronics and transmission will be cheaper, as there will be a single supplier approved by the FIA, with limited pricing. The use of carbon fibre will also be restricted. Michelin or DMACK will be the new tyre suppliers.

All the changes are made as a part of cutting costs and get more manufacturers and cars into the championship. Citroën brings along its new DS3, Ford a new Fiesta and MINI joins as a new manufacturer. Hopefully there will be even more manufacturers in the next few years.

What car Petter Solberg will drive in the 2011 championship is not decided yet. The first event is Rally Sweden, 10 – 13 February 2011.

Bologna Motorshow

The 2010 Bologna Motorshow is over, with Petter Solberg as the winner of Saturdays “Bettega Memorial Night Sprint”, and he came second in Sundays “Bettega Memorial”.

Petter Solberg were fastest in all his races on Saturday, and won the “Bettega Memorial Night Sprint” on Saturday. He continued with his good pace on Sunday and was fastest up until the final, where Sebastien Ogier finally beat him. Mikko Hirvonen ended third.

- It has been absolutely good fun this weekend, says Petter Solberg after the finish. – Even though I had to admit it got a bit up heated in the final with jump-starts and overheated engine. Too bad I didn’t manage to beat Ogier, but at least we have given the spectators a show to remember!