A great Rally Spain

– Do I need to say any more? I’m back!

This has been a fantastic rally for the Petter Solberg World Rally Team, and especially for Petter and co driver Phil Mills. They both said after that even with a fourth place this is the biggest moment in their carriers since 2004.

Team Manager Ken Rees is also very happy with the weekend. – The weekend went very well. We never did doubt Petter adapted the car quickly as he did with the Xsara at the beginning of the season. But he did exceed our expectations and felt very confident in the car by the end of day 1. He started day 2 fully confident and was straight on the pace setting fastest time in the afternoon on the longest stage, and continued this on the third day with three fastest times. The team as usual work exceptionally well and we are very pleased with both the car and the performance.

This season’s last event is in Wales, 22 – 24 October 2009.

Overall classification Rally Spain
1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Sordo, Citroën +12,0
3. Hirvonen, Ford +54,1
4. Petter Solberg, Citroën +1.12,4
5. Ogier, Citroën +1.41,6
6. Latvala, Ford +2.49,8
7. Wilson, Ford +7.15,5
8. Villagra, Ford +8.28,1

– Another stage win today feels really good. The last stage before the service today was a bit dodgy, so I was careful not to risk anything. Will drive safely for the final three stages.

Overall classification 15 of 18 stages

1. Loeb
2. Sordo +2,3
3. Hirvonen +50,0
4. Petter +1.14,8
5. Ogier +1.38,2
6. Latvala +2.47,2
7. Wilson +6.32,0
8. Villagra +7.27,9

Day 2 ends with a stagewin for Petter

- What a day! Everything has been according to our plan, and that stage win at the end of the day was incredible. It feels so good to be in a car like this, doing your best – and it actually turns out to be really fast! I mean, I’ve been fighting for a long time now to be in the top, and today I prooved for my self that I can fight in the top.

Starting a tarmac rally in a new car is a though decision, but with todays result, Petter and Phil has showed the world that anything is possible. It’s been one year since they last drove on tarmac, and compared with the other drivers, they only have a minimum of practice before they started here in Spain.

Petter is 4th overall when the second day in Spain is finished. 6 stages were on the agenda today, and Petter has been 3rd and 4th during the day, before he set thet pace and got a stage win on the final stage of the day. Sebastien Loeb is now leading the rally, Dani Sordo is second and Mikko Hirvonen third.

Rally Spain continues with 5 more stages Sunday.

Overall classification day 2 Rally Spain

1. Loeb, Citroen
2. Sordo, Citroen +1,5
3. Hirvonen, Ford +48,5
4. Petter, Citroen +1.10,9
5. Ogier, Citroen +1.30,9
6. Latvala, Ford +2.31,7
7. Wilson, Ford +5.52,6
8. Villagra, Ford +6.43,0

Midway day 2 Spain

Overall classification midway day 2

1.Sordo
2.Loeb +0,9
3.Hirvonen +44,6
4.Petter +1.12,0
5.Ogier +1.30,7
6.Latvala +2.11,9
7.Wilson +4.46,1
8.Villagra +5.22,2

- Changed the height of the car between SS8 and SS9, and it felt more right. It’s really good fun at the moment. I’m on the same pace as Mikko, but need to watch out for Ogier that is pushing behind me.

Day 1 Rally Spain

Petter is fourth in Spain, after a brilliant day 1 and debut with the new Citroën C4.

- Today was really great, and it was just as we planned. Too bad I lost that much time on the first stage of the day, but I didn’t want to risk anything. I’ve seen improvements during the day, and when I find the rythm I’m gonna attach more. But we have been up there fighting with the others several times today. I’m gonna discuss with my engineer and Citroën about what we are going to change for tomorrow, and also I need to see if my breaking points is to early – could save some seconds there, Petter says after a good day in Spain.

Dani Sordo is leading the rally, Sebastien Loeb is second and Mikko Hirvonen is third.

Rally Spain continues with 6 more stages Saturday.

Overall classification day 1 Rally Spain

1. Dani Sordo, Citroen
2. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen +1,6
3. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +34,2
4. Petter Solberg, Citroen +59,7
5. Sebastien Ogier, Citroen +1.22,9
6. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +1.36,7
7. Evgeni Novikov, Citroen +3.11,0
8. Matthew Wilson, Ford +3.28,8

SS4

SS4

1.Sordo
2.Loeb +0,1
3.Hirvonen +4,5
4.Ogier +6,2
5.Petter +6,8
6.Latvala +11,6
7.Villagra +24,8
8.Novikov +28,1

SS3

- It’s going very well, I see improvements all the time, everything is according to our plan.

1.Sordo
2.Loeb +1
3.Hirvonen +11,5
4.Petter +12,1
5.Ogier +18,7
6.Latvala +23,5
7.Wilson +39,2
8.Henning +44,8

SS2

SS2

It’s getting better and better, I really enjoyed it now. I’m building up my confidence and can go much faster, just need to find the rythm.

1.Sordo
2.Loeb +1,8
3.Mikko +6,6
4.Petter +9,9
5.Ogier +16,7
6.Latvala +18,7
7.Wilson +34,2
8.Henning +46,8

SS1

SS1

1. Sordo
2. Hirvonen +1
3. Loeb +2
4. Petter +15,9
5. Latvala +17,8
6. Ogier +23,8
7. Henning +38,1
8. Novikov +38,4

- There was damp conditions, and had to be on the safe side so I didnt attack. Worked very good from the start.