I want to thank you all for all the greetings on my birthday yesterday. It is so nice to be remembered by so many.  And I’m a bit proud! I have celebrated with my family for a couple of days now, and tomorrow I’m flying to UK for the annual fitness-test (which I really hope I’ll pass…). And then it’s off to Wales for more testing, this time it is with the car.

I was a guest at the Norwegian TV-show Golden Goal yesterday. On my way into the studio I ran into Mr Jens Stoltenberg, the Primeminister of Norway.

A tiny tiny bit of make-up is needed to look good on TV.

Briefing with Mr Golden before we start.

Waiting together with other guests.

The audience, including a lot of members of PSSC.

I’m back again from Rally Japan, and it is time for some everyday-life. Next week I will be in Norway, meeting with the norwegian members of PSSC and attending the Gatebil Ice Festival in Vikingskipet. And before you know it, it is time for Wales!

Ready for super special at Sapporo Dome, a football/ basebal field. A lot of people inside, cheering and waiving. It was good fun!

It has been an incredible week here in Japan – lot of work and a lot of fun. I’ve tested the new Subaru Streetcar and that was good fun, and I was very impressed! I’ve been to a Subaru-factory and met 1000 employees. I’ve was at the annual meeting in the Japanese Subaru Fan Club, and I also met with the President of Fuji and the board. So – as you can see, the week has been adventurous.

I’ve landed in Sapporo now and recce is starting tomorrow. I met Viki and Shige from PSSC earlier today – it is good to see they are on sight already, and I’m sure we will see more of them during the week!

I’m on my way to Japan and Tokyo. A bit early, you might think, but Subaru has planned a lot of PR-work in front of Rally Japan. Shows, exhibitons, meetings and testing – this will be a fun week! A lot of work, but as you know, I really enjoy it!

Pernilla and Oliver arrived here yesterday, and it always feel good to have them around. But today Oliver got both David Richards and me a bit worried - he got himself a Citroen model-car. Pernilla has got a new camera this summer, and has turned into a paparazzi!

It’s been a though rally, things worked better in Germany, but in total I’m quite happy about the fifth place. The car is working, we just need more speed. The two last stages today were really good and that is promising before Corsica.

Talking to Ole Einar Bjørndalen last weekend at Vålerbanen.

Ole Einar and myself together with our new body-guard…. Just kidding…. We are together with Even Wiger, the man in charge for Våler Racedays.

We ended with a good result in New Zealand, even tough it didn’t start to well. After a few set-up changes we set some good times, and especially Sunday went well. We are learning all the time and I’m sure we are soon back in the top.

I’m back in Monaco now, and more than ready for some proper “every day/ family” life. Oliver has just started school again, and his birthday is coming up. He is quite a “daddys” boy when I’m home, and I enjoy it very much.

But first I’m heading for Norway this weekend, and STCC at Våler-banen.

I’m on Facebook! Hopefully some of you will be my friends!

Things are working better today, compared to yesterday. We are able to push in the fast and flowing sections, but lack of grip in the twisty parts makes it hard.

But, today is Phil’s birthday, and we will celebrate that on Sunday evening. Happy birthday, Phil! 45, eh?!?! I thought, not a day over 29!

I am very happy about how the new car improved during the weekend in Germany, and we have learned a lot. All this will help us find the set-up for winning. I’m spending a few days with my family now, before travelling to New Zealand on Friday.

Be patient, we will soon be there!

Things have been better today, but still there are periods when I feel I can’t push as much as I want. Some stages have been very loose and slippery, and tomorrow stages will be the same. Clutch-problem caused a stall at a hairpin on SS16, and we lost some time. But – the car is improving.

Enda en runde på shakedown ferdig. Det var noe med styringa på første runden, men det fiksa gutta og nå er det helt ok. Another go done. There was something with the steering on the first round, but the guys fixed it, and now its ok.

Har akkurat kjørt første runden på shakedown, og fikk beste tid! Nå gjør vi noen justeringer og kjører på igjen. Tar meg også tid til noen intervjuer mens gutta jobber på bilen. We got the fastest time on the first shakedown run. Everything is working good! And Im off for the second run…..

The japanese guests arrived today!

Pictures from our visit at Rally School Ireland earlier this summer. We had fun - all of us!

A new and upcoming rally-star!

Oliver!

I got this nice drawing from a 5 year old boy at the festival. Thank you!