- Just finished with the first test-day in Wales, and this looks really good! Testing goes on tomorrow.

I’d been working Friday and Saturday following Petter’s results from my mobile phone.

After only 4 hours of sleep we picked a train to Reus. Our plan was going to SS16 and then back to the service park and wait for Petter.

Petter was really fast in that section, and so he was the fastest in the stage.I was so happy to be there watching Petter in action with the new car, and I was getting nervous only by imaging the atmosphere in the service area.

And there I was, waiting for Petter with my team T-shirt, a Petter Solberg cap and my norwegian flag in front of PSWRT area.

The hospitality area was so cool!!

I was saluting Petter’s mechanics (you’ve done a great job guys!) and Tone too. When I saw Ken Rees I shouted his name. He came by and we could talk a bit. He was great! Thank you Ken!

Then Petter arrived!! He gave us a good show!! After greeting his whole team and of course Pernilla, he came to us. He gave me a hug and he was really happy. I’ve never seen him smiling like this before.^_^ He signed my cap, and he went back to the car.

At that moment I was so happy…the atmosphere in the team was incredible. But I couldn’t leave without talking to Pernilla so I shouted her name.

She came to me and when I told her that I was Tina, she was really happy to meet me and she gave me a warm hug. We had a very interesting conversation.

Thank you very much Pernilla for being so nice with fans. Next time I will be travelling with PSWRT to follow the rally from the inside!!

The whole team has done a fantastic job!!

We’re really proud of you!!

Tina from Catalunya

“The whole family is already in the city house with the bitter flavor of the abandonment of Petter´s and Phil car after moments of a lot of stress and under an intense task on behalf of the whole team during on Friday and Saturday for the dusty roads of Córdoba´s mountains.

In the Sunday morning when the team was practically caressing the podium, the car stopped and Petter had to retire in a SS20 just 5 kilometers to the arrival the final of the stage.

During this weekend we had the great opportunity to see the hard work of the most consistent rally team that I never seen in WRC and how all the boys and girls have worked for this rally was successful.

Regrettably the bad luck played the carp again when the team also had to suffer the robbery of the briefcase of Mr. Ken Rees with the whole documentation in the service park ….. these things would never have to happen because of the security that the organization had placed around the whole park, but there are the mistakes that they will have to change in the future. Today I also listened by the press that our rally driver Coyote Villagra of Ford Munchis team was stolen too, with so good luck that a little boy found his coat and his wallet with his documents in the proximities of the service park.

After all that happened in last weekend I don’t have words to say thanks in my name and in the name of my family to Petter and his team for the pleasing moments shared during Argentina´s rally 2009.

I will keep all these moments in my heart like one of my biggest treasures and like one of very emotive moments in my life.
Thanks Petter Solberg World Rally Team: I´m so proud of you all. Good luck for the next event.”

Elda for PSSC

Day one in Portugal is finished, and Petter is 5th. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally, while Sebastien Loeb is third.

- We went for a softer set up at the midday service, and we were right on the pace. We were much faster on the second loop today, and I felt I could attack more. Our road position for tomorrow is ok, we were fifth today and the drivers in front of us did clean the road a bit.

The first proper day with rallying in Portugal started with a bit drama. Sebastien Loeb went off the road on the first stage, just 1km into the stage. He was caught in the dust, and had to wait a little time before he could find the correct way back on the road. On the same stage, Petter almost missed a junction, but managed to get back to the correct one without losing much time. Latvala started the day really fast and went into stage 4 as the leader. But then he had an accident and went far off the road. The car rolled for 150 meters before it stopped, and Jari-Mati said he stopped counting the rolls after number 10. The car had to be airlifted back on the road, and he is not restarting tomorrow.

Rally Portugal continues with 6 more stages tomorrow.

Overall classification, day 1 Rally Portugal

1. Hirvonen, Ford
2. Sordo, Citroen +15,0
3. Loeb, Citroen +18,0
4. Grønholm, Subaru + 23,9
5. Petter, Citroen +42,2
6. Ogier, Citroen +1.04,0
7. Wilson, Ford +1.14,6
8. Novikov, Citroen +1.33,7
9. Henning, Ford +1.33,8

“Because there isn’t a wrc rally in Germany this year we had to choose another wrc rally. Last year in germany I already asked petter wich other rally he would advise us. As expected he answered Rally Norway. When we returned from Germany we started to plan our trip. We were lucky to be able to stay with Magnus, one of the mechanics of Per Eklund, who lives in Tobol. This is near the stages of the first day of the rally.

During the press conference of the introduction of the Petter Solberg World Rally Team I saw Eivind Opland. I already knew him from when he was driving rallycross and so I called around trying to get his phone number. When I finally had the number I called him hoping he could get me into the service area of the PSWRT. He told me it wasnt any problem and that we had to call him when we arrived to the service park. This was great news. When we got there, Petter was very busy giving interviews. Still he took the time to talk to us. I wished him a lots of succes and told him I hoped he could end the rally on a good place. In total we saw 8ss over the weekend with temperatures of -26°c in the morning and lots of snow, it was very tough but really is worth while. Someday I hope to return to the Rally Norway becaus it was very beautifull to see especially in these snowy conditions.
 
Lots of thanks to Magnus and Eivind Opland for theire hospitality.

Hans Van Gils, Belgium.”

PSSC will organise a members “get-together” in Wales during the rally.

If you are going to Wales for the rally, and are a member of PSSC, you are invited to join us at SWRT-hospitality Friday evening for Flexi Service. There will be a small fee, £25 per person, and that includes a hot meal and drinks.

Interested? Send an email to info@pettersolberg.no and let us know.

RALLY CATALUNYA REPORT  (Part3)

Sunday, 5th october

Rallye Catalunya has ended…U_U and we are back at home with lots of pictures and another Petter Solberg clothing (a cap), feeling sad because rallye has ended.
It has been a hard rallye for me, you can imagine me waiting for 4 hours,on any corner of the stage, when the sun isn’t already risen,suffering from tonsilitis and coughing. But it worths it all, when you hear the first car coming through.

For instance, we went to ss14/ss17 Santa Marina (last year’s Colldejou) and it was really cold but we had a great time.
The show has been great, we’ve been in this stage for 3 years, because there is a hairpin where some drivers show a spectacular driving style:Duval, Wilson and of course Petter. They haven’t cut on the inside but slided on the outside.I love the way petter slides the car!!
You’re the best Petter!!
Congratulations for your 5th position

Tina from Catalunya

RALLY CATALUNYA REPORT  (Part2)

Friday 3th October

At 7 am,we arrive at the section before Montmell start-line, and it was just closed.
So we decided to drive to the nearest stage:El Querol. We stayed in the end of a chicane and it was great to see how every driver was cutting and flowing through corners.Loeb was the fastest at that section but Petter was fast too.

Between first and second run,classique cars begun to run.We had a good show until one of the drivers had a big acccident.Then the cars drove slowly.When we left the stage we saw the car, Lancia Stratos, really damaged.It was very sad to see that car on the side of the road.I wish driver is ok and they can fix the car..

Saturday 4th October

We were so tired that we overslept, so we had to change our scheduling and we drove to the see the second run of La Llena.
That was a really fast corner with a lot of cutting where we could watch them come from several corners until they came flat out in front of us.Petter was fighting for sure and he was really fast in that section.

I enjoyed very much in that stage, because there were a lot of scandinavians that greeted me because I was wearing a norwegian flag and henning’s cap.It was really funny when, in our way to that corner crossing along hills, I saw a big group of norwegians men, all dressed in orange with a big norwegian flag.I was wearing my swrt jacket and my orange henning’s cap and when they saw me walking by them, they started to shout something in norwegian to me and they pointed to my cap…hehe…I told them, “gogo Henning, gogo Petter!!” with my thumbs up.They were very surprised and started shouting “henning ohh henning, and mikkelsen and ostberg”.Then one of them pointed to my friends cap:a Loeb one.And they said “… and Loeb”.Then I shouted “NONO…NO Loeb” .They were laughing for real…haha…And started to say something in norwegian to each other and smiling.After that, I think they will have another idea from spanish girls haha…XDXD

Tina from Catalunya

RALLY CATALUNYA REPORT  (Part1)

Thursday 2nd October,

Hi from Salou!

We arrived at 9:30h at  service park.
There was nobody from swrt yet, so we decided to take a look at classique car’s exhibition area. We were so lucky to get into the closed area and we took lots of pictures, included one of myself with Michelle Mouton’s quattro. ^_^
I am dying to hear those group B cars live in stages.

After that, I visited swrt shop area and I bought a lightweight jacket. This jacket looks awesome with that swrt symbol at the back!
I also bought a henning Solberg Expert cap.

Then, I was waiting for Petter in swrt area, where I met some nice friends of Petter: Otter and Kaja Odegarden.
I saw some norwegian flags and I thought -They may be from PSSC. So I came closer to her and I start to speak to her, fortunately I speak English, hehe. They told me they knew Petter from long time ago.
I really had a good time chating with Kaja. They were really nice and we took a picture together.

When petter finished talking with the media he came directly to me. He greeted Otter and Kaja,and I give him the message book. He was surprised to see it
I told him that next year will be his year, and I ask him about next year’s dampers. He signed my PSSC calendar, and my boyfriend’s impreza book. We took a photo and I told him that I may travel to Rally Norway, a handshake and I  said goodbye to him and lots of luck.

I couldn’t chat with Henning, I was too late, but his mechanics were so nice to take my message book for henning and they put it on henning’s seat. So when he enters in the car he will see some support messages.
A pity I couldn’t talk to him, he is really nice…U_U

So we are preparing for tomorow stages. We will be heading to SS3/SS6 Montmell at 6 o’clock in the morning.

Thanks Petter for all, and look for a norwegian flag in the stage!!!
LOts of luck!!

Tina from Catalunya.

Thursday, 14 July 2008.  Our first stop is the Shakedown, where we can admire the new Subaru for the first time live.  Round 10 o’clock I tell my friend Ad, who joined me to the rally, that it is time to go to the Service park, because otherwise we would be too late to meet Petter, and that wasn’t an option.  When we arrive in the Service park I walk straight to the Subaru area to find someone who could help us to see Petter.  I approach a woman of the Subaru crew and explain that I have a meeting with Petter.    Then it’s like a dream.  We can enter the Subaru VIP area and there they are.  The 2 Subaru rally cars 2 meter in front of us.  I can’t believe this is happening to me, a very special moment for me as fan of Petter and Subaru.  The next moment I see Petter walking up to me.  I can feel my heartbeat going up.  I ask if he can sign a picture of me and Petter that we took last year.  Of course that wasn’t any problem.  We talk about the shakedown, the new car and at the end I also wish him a lot of success for the rally.  I also have to wish him good luck from Per Eklund, for whom I am a mechanic during the ERC Rallycross races in Belgium and Holland.  Because next year there won’t be a WRC rally in Germany, I ask Petter which rally we should go to in 2009.  As expected his answer is rally Norway.  Then it’s time to go for Petter so we say goodbye.  Maybe next year in Norway????   YES, YES, YES again, because when I come home we start to plan our trip to Norway in February 2009.  Hopefully it won’t be too cold.

Thanks for a great day in the Subaru VIP area, a fantastic meeting with Petter.

See you in Norway next year.

Hans Van Gils
From Belgium

“Thanks to the friendship that was born through the Petter´s webpage forum, two of his fans met yesterday and today in London city. Eric from Rwanda and Paula from Argentina were visiting beautiful places in this city. 

It is the encounter number three since the Petter´s webpage began on line and their fans are permanently breaking the barriers of distances among them. 

1-Eric and Harold was in Holland. 
2-Eileen and Harold was in Ireland. 
3-Paula and Eric was in Great Britain. 

Who will be in the fourth position and in what country will be a meeting? 

Thanks to Petter Solberg this is possible and the fans from all over the world can be known and of course to speak about the idol that join them.

Elda for PSSC”

Kazuko from Japan was one of the three winners that won Petters competition. She couldn’t go to Greece, so Petter invited her to Finland instead. Now she is back in Japan, and this is her Finland-report. 

Wednesday 30 July
18:00 I arrived at Jyvaskyla airport. It took about 10hours by airplane from Tokyo to Jyvaskyla. PSSC staff, Tone, picked me up at the airport. I was relieved that she was very nice and kind. After I checked in to the hotel, I went to see her to go to dinner. She said, ”Petter comes here in a couple of minutes.” I was shocked since I hadn’t thought I could meet him on Wednesday! My heart started pounding! One minute later he appeared. He was really busy but he kindly talked to me in simple English slowly, and we took a picture together.
21:00 Tone took me to the service park next to Jyvaskyla station. It took only a few minutes from the hotel by walk. It’s 21:00 but not dark.

Day 1 Thursday 31 July
7:30 Shakedown. I went to the Subaru service park. I was surprised since I watched “Solberg 5” impreza just 2 meters away! How loud the exhaust noise was! I saw Petter again. He gave me autographs not only for me, but for Tokyo Subaru Jonan branch that was the shop I bought my Legacy. They always work very hard so I really wanted to get it for them. Petter was willing to give it in spite of just 30minutes before the shakedown. And he cared if I was enjoying this trip. And then, Tone introduced Phil to me. I gave him a love letter from Viki! I got to know her on this site in last October and now she is my best friend!
18:00 SSS Killeri 1. I left the hotel at 18:00. It took only 10minutes by car. There were a lot of spectators. I was jumping when Petter was driving, otherwise I saw only the back heads of tall Finnish. After Petter finished the stage, he opened the door and waved his hand to the spectators.

Re-start Day 1 Friday 1 August
11:47 SS5 Vellipohja 2. I enjoyed the scenary on the way to Vellipohja. A lot of lakes and beautiful forest….it was like a picture! I watched Petter turned the corner smoothly from the third row. It was very fun cheering him with Norwegian supporters! They asked me to bring the song to Rally Japan. “Petter Solberg♪Petter solberg♪ole♪ole♪♪ole♪Norge!” I must convince shy Japanese to sing that song!
14:00 I had lunch at the Subaru service park. It tasted wonderful!
14:57 Petter arrived the service park and waved his hand to the spectators.
15:27 Petter went out to SS8.
19:00 BBQ at the Subaru service park. I talked to Norwegian supporters and asked them how to pronounce some Norwegian. I had a really good time but one of them asked me, ”Do you eat a dog?” No way!

Day 2 Saturday 2 August
8:30 I left the hotel to Kakaristo. It was only 10 degrees! It’s just like November in Tokyo! On the way to Kakaristo, Tone took me to a gravel road that used to be SS. We talked about pace note. “jump” “big jump” We were just like Petter and Phil! Actually she drove the car at about 40km/h so we didn’t jump!
10:30 SS16 Kakaristo 1. There were a lot of spectators and shops. I talked to Finnish. They asked me, “Who is your favorite driver?” I answered immediately,”Petter Solberg!” The view was wonderful and wide. In the forest, I heard that the exhaust note was getting bigger, and the FIA course staffs whistled, then rally cars came in front of us and run incredibly fast. It’s so exciting! Petter had a trouble with his car but I know he always does his best!
14:10 Lunch at the Subaru service park. I looked at the screen that showed the present results.
14:38 Petter came back to the service park. He waved his hand to the spectators as always even though he was extremely busy.
15:08 Petter left the service park to SS19.
19:00 At the Subaru service park. I was surprised that as soon as he arrived there, the mechanics changed the engine and suspension only within 45minutes!
Day 3 Sunday 3 August
10:30 SS24 Ruuhimaki. It took only 30minutes from the hotel to the parking near SS24 then 10minutes by walk. I was in the first row at the last corner close to finish gate. It’s very dusty but I felt the power of the rally cars climbing the hill! I was really happy that Petter got the fastest time at this SS!

I had a wonderful time whole of this weekend. It’s absolutely VIP weekend! We parked the car in the restricted area with “magic” media pass and took a rest in the Subaru service park.

At the airport, I was a little upset because fantastic rally trip has ended. But my luck hadn’t run out! When I was waiting the airplane suddenly Petter appeared there! He found me and talked to me kindly. So I showed him the video that I recorded his driving at the last SS today and talked about a lot of things about 15minute in total! He is really nice, kind and always cares a lot about his fans.

Petter,
Thank you very much! You have really made my dream come true! I will never forget this wonderful trip! I’d like to say thank you in Norwegian. “Takk. Mange takk!” I keep supporting you as much as possible! See you in Rally Japan!

Tone,
You took care of me a lot and very well. And you put up with my bad English for 5days! Mange takk! I really appreciate your help!

Kazuko (Kazu from Japan)