We have received more photos from Rally Japan. The report is in Japanese only, and you can see it on the Japanese part of the website. Click on the Japanese flag.

Mikko Hirvonen won Rally Japan, while Sebastien Loeb secured the 2008 Championship with his third place. Petter, who restarted again today under SupeRally-regulations, managed to get the final point with his eight place. After setting the fastest time on three stages today, Petter said that he was quite happy with the weekend. – Again the car has shown its potential and we have proved that the paste is getting there. And the guys made a brilliant job getting the car back on the road after the accident yesterday.

Heavily rain made the stages muddy and wet today. – We got a puncture on SS23 and the windscreen was fully blocked with fog in the morning, otherwise I think we would have won more stages.

Next, and final event for the season, is Wales Rally GB, 5. – 7. December 2008.

Overall classification Rally Japan 2008:

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +31,1
3. SebastienLoeb, Citroen +2.30,6
4. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +3.42,4
5. PG Andersson, Suzuki +5.12,9
6. Toni Gardemeister, Suzuki +6.09,4
7. Matthew Wilson, Ford +7.05,3
8. Petter Solberg, Subaru +13.19,9

- It was a great start today, with the stagewin on SS12, and a not so good end. The stage win felt really good, knowing that the others were doing their best. This proves that we are getting there, step by step. The team is now working to get the car ready for SupeRally tomorrow.

The second day of Rally Japan started much better than it ended for Petter. Fantastic driving on stage 12, the second longest stage of the rally, ended with a stage win. But then a whole in the road and a spin damaged the right-hand rear wheel and suspension, and they had to retire on SS18.

Mikko Hirvonen is still leading Rally Japan, and Latvala is second. Sebastien Loeb is third. Henning retired from the rally on the road-section just after the finish on SS17 with a broken wheel and suspension. The condition of Duvals codriver, Patrick Pivato, is still critical, but stable. Pivato were taken to hospital yesterday after an accident on stage 6.

Rally Japan continuous with 9 more stages Sunday.

Overall classifictaion day 2 – Rally Japan

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +15,5
3. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen +53,5
4. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +2.26,0
5. Matthew Wilson, Ford +4.31,6
6. Toni Gardemeister, Suzuki +4.38,5
7. PG Andersson, Suzuki +5.11,8
8. Federico Villagra, Ford +9.59,6
13. Petter Solberg +13.02,7
20. Henning Solberg +18.58,8

The first day of Rally Japan are finished, and Petter is in fifth position. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala in second. Sebastien Loeb is third, and on his way to secure the championship.

10 stages were on the itinerary today, but two of them were cancelled already this morning, due to the snowy conditions.  Duval had an accident on stage 6, and the stage was stopped afterwards. Duvals codriver, Patrick Pivato, was taken to hospital for surgery after the accident. Due to the delays after the accident, stage 8 was also cancelled.

Rally Japan continues with 10 more stages Saturday, first car is on the road at 0828 local time.

Overall classification, day 1

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford

2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +26,2

3. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen +30,6

4. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +1.00,3

5. Petter Solberg, Subaru +1.02,0

6. Matthew Wilson, Ford +1.11,2

7. PG Andersson, Suzuki +1.11,6

8. Toni Gardemeister, Suzuki +1.36,8

9. Henning Solberg, Ford +1.46,6

Still two more stages to go before day 1 is completed, but after 8 stages the overall-list is like this:

1. Hirvonen
2. Latvala +22,1
3. Loeb +27,3
4. Petter Solberg +54,4
5. Henning Solberg +1.38,8

If you ask Petter to demonstrate how to use a mountain-bike, anything can happen. Subaru has produced one piece of this fantastic mountain-bike, and Petter really showed the photographers how to use it.

On Wednesday evening Petter was invited to a Subaru dealer in Sapporo to meet with supporters. He brought with him a pair of shoes and gloves as prizes in a competition. This little fellow was so happy about getting one of the shoes, that he put it on his head as a hat. His younger brother got the other shoe, whilst the mother – who actually won the competition – left empty handed.

1. Dani Sordo, Citroen 2:34.2
2. Francois Duval, Ford 2:34.5
3. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford 2:34.6
4. Henning Solberg, Ford 2:35.0
5. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen 2:35.1
5. Petter Solberg, Subaru 2:35.1
7. Chris Atkinson, Subaru 2:35.3
8. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford 2:35.6

Hokkaido is one of four big islands in Japan, with Sapporo being the largest city. This is the fifth time Japan is hosting a rally. 344km and 29 stages are waiting, and it will be a tough weekend for both drivers and cars.

Petter won this event in 2004, and both he and the team have been working hard to prepare for this rally, as Japan is the home rally for Subaru. Mikko Hirvonen won here last year, while both Marcus Grønholm and Sebastien Loeb retired.

Itinerary (GMT+9)

Friday, 31. October

0911 SS1 Heper 1 13,24km
0939 SS2 Yuparo 1 11,10km
1042 SS3 Isepo 1  13,67km
1128 SS4 Pipaoi 1 5,74km
Service
1428 SS5 Heper 2 13,24km
1456 SS6 Yuparo 2 11,10km
1628 SS7 Isepo 2  13,67km
1645 SS8 Pipaoi 2 5,74km
1814 SS9 Sapporo 1 1,49km
1824 SS10 Sapporo 2 1,49km

Saturday, 1. November

0828 SS11 Imeru 1 2 2,57km
0921 SS12 Nikara 1 31,12km
1037 SS13 Kamuycep 1 33,66km
1132 SS14 Kina 1  9,55km
Service
1350 SS15 Imeru 2  2,57km
1443 SS16 Nikara 2 31,12km
1559 SS17 Kamuycep 2 33,66km
1654 SS18 Kina 2  9,55km
1809 SS19 Sapporo 3 1,49km
1819 SS20 Sapporo 4 1,49km

Sunday, 2. November

0707 SS21 Koyka 1  3,57km
0726 SS22 Iwanke 1 13,57km
0821 SS23 Sikot 1  27,76km
0853 SS24 Imeru 3  2,57km
1006 SS25 Sapporo 5 1,49km
Service
1158 SS26 Koyka 2  3,57km
1247 SS27 Iwanke 2 13,57km
1312 SS28 Sikot 2  27,76km
1344 SS29 Imeru 4  2,57km

Yoichi, Michiko, Hiromi, crazy woman in the middle, Hiroyuki, Yoshi & Shige.

Rear Cars:
STI Impreza Replica of Michiko & Yoichi from Obihiro, Viki’s Legacy B-Sport Replica (Petter says it is too slow but I kept up with him all
yesterday) & Yoshi’s new STI Legacy Replica!!!
Phil finally signed Michiko’s Impreza at the hotel this morning and Phil & Petter both signed Yoshi’s Legacy. My car will not be unique anymore!

Petter talks to Yoshi, Hiromi & Shige at service after recce

Viki & her WRBlue nails have a last picture with Petter before everyone went to Hokkaido Subaru for a talk show!

Yes, I do realize this is a Citroen, not Subaru!

But interesting extra on this Citroen of Conrad’s. The Yellow and green arrow looking thing hanging in the rear window means beginner driver.
Japanese use these when they first get their license. The purpose is to show other drivers you are new and for them to watch out for you..
So I think this is so cute, something I have never seen before in Rally Japan!

I thought it was so cute!!!!

A friend of mine who has dyed his hair into a Norwegian flag!