Petter Solberg and Phil Mills drove in to a third place overall today here in Jordan. – It feels good to be on the podium again, and I’m very pleased for both my team and my sponsors, Petter Solberg said after the finish podium. – The rally went well, except for that two stages yesterday, were I really struggled to find the grip. I had the perfect car, and I’m very happy to be able to be up there and fight for fastest times.

Sebastien Loeb won Jordan Rally, with Jari-Matti Latvala in second place. With his third, Petter secured more points in the championship, and is now 4th overall with 35 points.

Next event is Rally Turkey, 16 – 18 April.

Overall classification Jordan Rally 2010
1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroën
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +35,8
3. Petter, Citroën +1.11,8
4. Dani Sordo, Citroën +1.49,3
5. Matthew Wilson, Ford +8.24,3
6. Sebastien Ogier, Citroën +10.26,4
7. Federico Villagra, Ford +11.28,0
8. Kimi Raikkönen, Citroën +12.31,0
9. Henning Solberg, Ford +14.08,6

- It was a lot of playing this morning with the other teams, and it ended with Ogier is sweaping the road infront of Loeb. Hirvonen were suddenly car number three starting the stage, and is infront of Latvala. We ended up with being 5th on the road. Still 4 more stages to go, and I think it is possible to catch up on Latvala.

Overall classification 17 of 21 stages

1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Latvala, Ford +37,8
3. Petter, Citroën +58,6
4. Sordo, Citroën +1.36,1
5. Wilson, Ford +6.50,9
6. Villagra, Ford +9.22,1
7. Ogier, Citroën +9.56,9
8. Raikkönen, Citroën +10.23,9

Second day in Jordan is finished, and Petter is 4th and 43 seconds behind Loeb, who leads the rally. Latvala is third, but only 15 seconds ahead of Petter.

- It’s been really good on 4 of todays stages, and I have exactly the starting position I wanted for the final day, Petter says. – I must admit I didn’t plan to be more than 40 seconds behind the leader, but it is a long day tomorrow and a lot can happen.

6 stages have been contested today, 3 stages done twice. Petter and Phil set the fastest time on two of the stages, and were second fastest on SS8 and SS11. But on the longest stage of the day, The Jordan River, they lost some time. – I struggled with the grip on that stage, on both runs. There is nothing wrong with the car, just didn’t have any grip.

Tomorrow is the final day here in Jordan, but with more than 100kms to contest (8 stages) on the final day, it will certainly be an exciting day. First car is on the road from 0820 (local time).

Overall classification day 2 Jordan Rally

1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Ogier, Citroën +24,6
3. Latvala, Ford +27,7
4. Petter, Citroën +43,2
5. Sordo, Citroën +48,8
6. Wilson, Ford +5.05,7
7. Villagra, Ford +6,51,0
8. Raikkönen, Citroën +8.09,0

Overall classification 10 of 21 stages

1. Latvala, Ford
2. Loeb, Citroën +4,7
3. Ogier, Citroën +14,1
4. Petter, Citroën +28,0
5. Sordo, Citroën +34,3
6. Wilson, Ford +3.17,9
7. Villagra, Ford +4.26,3
8. Raikkönen, Citroën +5.46,7

- Did very well on the two first stages, perfect set up for that. But the set up didn’t work that well for that last one, we had no grip and lost time.

- 0,7 behind Loeb on that last stage was the perfect ending on the first day here in Jordan, says Petter Solberg. – But I must admit it was very tight, but good team-work secured a good starting position for the next day. I’m very happy with everything so far, and we just had to “play the game” at the end of day. Road position is so important for a good result. We will see during the day tomorrow what our next step will be.

7 of 21 stages are done in Jordan, and Petter is 4th. Jari-Matti Latvala is the overnight leader of the rally, and will also be first on the road tomorrow. Petter and Phil were fastest on two of todays seven stages and could have been in the lead if they hadn’t decided to just go for a target time on the final stage and secure a good start position.

Jordan Rally continues with 6 more stages Friday. First car will be on the road from 0800 (local time).

Overall classification day 1 Jordan Rally

1. Latvala, Ford
2. Ogier, Citroën +30,2
3. Loeb, Citroën +31,8
4. Petter, Citroën +32,5
5. Hirvonen, Ford +42,2
6. Sordo, Citroën +45,4
7. Henning, Ford +1.20,9
8. Wilson, Ford +2.01,1

Petter Solberg World Rally Team is en route for Jordan and the third event on the 2010 calendar. Jordan Rally is based by the Dead Sea, about one hour drive from Amman. We are in the Middle East, and Jordan, with its population of 5,7 million people, borders to Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the West Bank. The surface is gravel and we are expecting temperatures up to 50 degrees. From the extreme altitude in Mexico, we are now preparing for extreme heat in the Middle East.

- Jordan will be extremely exciting, says Petter Solberg. – Everything was perfect in Mexico and that second place felt so, so good. We will be using our second car for the first time in Jordan, together with a new and improved engine. I have already been in Jordan for a couple of days, relaxing and spending some time with my son, Oliver.

Jordan Rally starts with Shakedown on Wednesday. The first proper day of rally will be Thursday and the final day is Saturday. A total of 21 stages will be contested over the days. The first time Jordan Rally was on the WRC calendar, were in 2008; Petter had to retire after he went off the road and Mikko Hirvonen won the event.

Itinerary Jordan Rally 2010

Thursday, 1 April

1128 SS1 Rumman Forest 15,34km

1226 SS2 Wadi Shueib 1 8,65km

1254 SS3 Mahes 1 20,44km

1337 SS4 Mount Nebo 1 11,09km

Dead Sea Service A

1550 SS5 Wadi Shueib 2 8,65km

1613 SS6 Mahes 2 20,44km

1656 SS7 Mount Nebo 2 11,09km

Dead Sea Flexi Service B

Friday 2 April

0811 SS8 Suwayma 1 10,49km

0851 SS9 Kafrain 1 17,20km

0949 SS10 Jordan River 1 41,45km

Dead Sea Service D

1250 SS11 Suwayma 2 10,49km

1330 SS12 Kafrain 2 17,20km

1428 SS13 Jordan River 2 41,45km

Dead Sea Flexi Service E

Saturday 3 April

0820 SS14 Yakrut 1 14,16km

0850 SS15 Bahath 1 12,53km

0933 SS16 Shuna 1 15,23km

1016 SS17 Baptism Site 1 10,83km

Dead Sea Service G

1211 SS18 Yakrut 2 14,16km

1241 SS19 Bahath 2 12,53km

1324 SS20 Shuna 2 15,23km

1407 SS21 Baptism Site 2 10,83km

Dead Sea Service H

1530 Finish Podium

Next event is Jordan Rally, and even though this is not a “long-haul” event, our trucks with equipment have a long journey going there.

Both trucks drove from Torsby in Sweden March 15 heading for the first stop; Rioz in France. In Rioz there were 24hrs of reloading before they set off for the next part of the journey, the drive to Trieste in Italy. Arrived Trieste on the 19th, loaded onto a ship that sailed off the next day. For one week now, the ship will be crossing the Mediterranean, go trough the Suez Canal before entering the Red Sea. From there it will sail to Aqaba, the only seaport in Jordan. On Saturday March 27, our truck drivers will be in Aqaba, waiting to unload the trucks from the ship. The same day they will take the trucks in a Police convoy, the 4 hrs drive up to the service-park by the Dead Sea.

On Sunday March 28, we will all be in Jordan starting to unload the trucks and building our service area.

On the last day of Jordan Rally, I had the honour to meet His Majesty King Abdullah II. Meeting kings is not something I do everyday, so I’m actually quite proud about it. Phil and King Abdullah talked about the good, old rallydays, when Phil used to codrive for the king. I also met Prince Feisal several times during the rally, and we talked a lot. We both feel strongly about the project “Peace Through Sport”, and I’m very honoured to be the first ambassador.

Not so much action for me today, allthough I really should have been out there fighting today. I’m not that comfortable being a spectator on a rally –but that’s how it is. Phil, David Richards and I were invited by Prince Feisal to go in his Blackhawk helicopter out on a stage, and that was good fun.

I’m flying home from Jordan tonight, and are already looking forward to Rally Sardinia.

The winner of the 2008 Jordan Rally is Mikko Hirvonen. Going into the final day, Dani Sordo was in the lead, but after 4 stages today he had to give the lead to Mikko, and Sordo ended 2nd. Petters team-mate, Chris Atkinson, ended 3rd after another weekend with good driving. Henning has been climbing on the overall classification during the weekend, and ended 4th, after Latvala dropped down on the list today and Urmo Aava dropped out.

Petter went off the road on the final stage Saturday afternoon, and with a damaged roll-cage he was unable to restart again today. Rally Jordan has been a challenging rally for Petter and Phil, and it started on Friday with two broken dampers. Another broken damper on Saturday, before a broken brake calliper sent them off the road on the final stage Saturday.

Sebastien Loeb were forced to retire from the rally on Saturday, after he smashed into Conrad Rautenbach on the roadsection.

Next event is Rally Sardinia, 16. – 18. May 2008.

 
Overall classification Jordan Rally 2008

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford – total tid 4.02.47,9
2. Dani Sordo, Citroën +1.15,7
3. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +4.59,5
4. Henning Solberg, Ford +7.35,8
5. Matthew Wilson, Ford  +10.41,7
6. Frederico Villagra, Ford +11.22,2
7. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +12.15,6
8. Gigi Galli, Ford +12.24,4

Dani Sordo is still in the lead, when day 2, and a total of 16 stages are done. Latvala is 2nd and Mikko Hirvonen is 3rd. Sebastien Loeb, who set the fastest time on today’s two first stages, were forced to retire after an accident on the roadsection going from SS11.

Petter, who restarted again today under SupeRally-regulations, went off the road on SS16, the final stage of today. A broken brake calliper caused trouble braking down going into a corner, and they went off the road. Petter and Phil were not injured. When things were working well today, Petter followed the pace of the top three drivers, but another broken damper gave the duo some extra challenges on SS11 and SS12. Today it was the rear left damper that just gave up. The car’s roll-cage maybe damaged after the off on SS16, so at the moment we do not know if Petter is able to restart again tomorrow.

Jordan Rally continues with 6 more stages Sunday.

Overall classification day 2

1. Dani Sordo, Citroën
2. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +8,5
3. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +10,4
4. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +2.02,5
5. Urmo Aava, Citroën +3.07,2
6. Matthew Wilson, Ford +4.56,5
7. Henning Solberg, Ford +5.10,9
8. Frederico Villagra, Ford +6.56,3

- The first 4 stages went really well. We set a good time on SS1, and kept on following the pace of Sordo on SS2, but we felt something was happening with the traction. To help solve the problem, the team told me to adjust the dampers, before going on SS3. I did that, but it didn’t work very well. Before SS4 I changed it back, and things were better. 500 metres before the finish-line on SS5 I had to go in the ditch to avoid a big, and I mean really big, rock. We had to follow the ditch a bit, before we managed to get back on the road. Nothing happened, but of course we lost some time.

We were only two tenths of a second behind Sordo on SS6, when the dampers broke. First I thought we hade hit a rock, but the footage from the inboard-camera shows that this is not correct. We didn’t hit anything. What really happens is that we got a hydraulic-failure on the left damper, and after 100 metres the same thing happens with right damper. Because of the oil leaking out, we got a fire and some wires for the gear-box burns. What caused this “explosions” we don’t know yet, but Chris are having the same problems.

We will start again tomorrow.

Day 1, and 8 stages, is completed in the 2008 Jordan Rally. Sadly, Petter and Phil had to retire after SS6, after hitting a rock. Dani Sordo is in the lead, and his team-mate Sebastien Loeb is 2nd.

Today has mostly been about grip – or lack of grip. The hard-packed surface is covered with sand, making it difficult for the first driver to find grip. Petter started the day well, and ended with a joint fastest time together with Sordo on the first stage. After SS5 he was 5th overall, but only 16 seconds behind the leader. But 500 metres before the finish line on SS6, they hit a rock and damaged both dampers. They made it to the finish line, but lost more than 6 minutes. They did not start on SS7 and SS8, and for the moment it is not decided if they will restart tomorrow under SupeRally-regulations.

Jordan Rally has been a challenge to other drivers, as well. Loeb had a little spin on SS1, and he lost a few seconds. PG Andersson got stuck in a sandbank on SS1 and had to struggle to get out again. He lost so much time, that it was decided to retire from the day, and restart again tomorrow under SupeRally-regulations. Hirvonen went off the road on SS2, and said he couldn’t believe his luck when he managed to get back on the road and was able to continue. Toni Gardemeister retired on SS3 with an oil-leak, and Gigi Galli went off on SS7 and also had to retire.

Rally Jordan continues with 8 more stages Saturday, first car is on stage at 0853.

Overall classification – day 1 Jordan Rally

1. Dani Sordo, Citroën
2. Sebastien Loeb, Citroën +1,1
3. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +8,5
4. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +13,4
5. Chris Atkinson, Subaru +1.08,0
6. Urmo Aava, Citroën +1.59,3
7. Matthew Wilson, Ford +2.52,7
8. Henning Solberg, Ford +3.22,3

Dani Sordo (Citroën) were fastest on todays shakedown. Petter drove the 2,3km long stage 4 times and ended with 7th fastest time. “The car is OK, we do small adjustments along the way to find the best set-up for the weekend”, Petter said after his 4th run. Gigi Galli drove 10 times today, and was awarded with the 2nd fastest time.

Rally Jordan starts Friday morning at 0819.

Shakedown-times, Rally Jordan

1. Sordo 1:14.3
2. Galli 1:14.5
3. Hirvonen 1:14.5
4. Loeb 1:14.7
5. Latvala 1:14.8
6. Atkinson 1:14.8
7. P. Solberg 1:14.9
8. H. Solberg 1:15.6

This evening we were invited by Prince Feisal of Jordan to a welcome dinner. Prince Feisal has also taken initiative to start a project called “Peace through Sport”, and he asked me to be an ambassador for the project. And of course I accepted! And I’m quite honoured to be asked. “Peace through Sport” is supported by both the UN and IOC. I will try to tell you more about it later.

During the evening we also got to know Jordanian folk-music, and we were dressed up in Jordanian clothes. It was quite comfortable, actually – must be good to wear in this kind of heat.

PetterS

It’s rally-week again, and for the first time there will be a WRC-event in the Middle East. Jordan is hosting the rally and Rally HQ is based by the banks of the Dead Sea – 408 mtrs below sealevel. The surface is hard-packed gravel and the stages are run trough the desert surrounding the Dead Sea. Stages are expected to be tricky with lot of crests. They are wide, but yet it is difficult to read the surface and know how much to push.

It is the first time for a WRC-event, but not the first time in Jordan for Solberg and Mills. Both did the recce there in May 2007, and Phil also won the 1994 Rally of Jordan together with Mohammed Bin Sulayem.

55 cars will contest the 22 stages over three days. Most of the stages are quite short going from 9k’s to 20k’s, but the real challenge will be on the final day, when the rally concludes with the 41 kilometres long Jordan River Stage.

Itinerary (Jordan is GMT 2)

Friday, 25. April

0819 SS1 Suwayma 1 13,03km
0853 SS2 Mahes 1 20,00km
0938 SS3 Mount Nebo 1 11,10km
1025 SS4 Mal’n 1 14,46km
 Service
1235 SS5 Suwayma 2 13,03km
1309 SS6 Mahes 2 20,00km
1354 SS7 Mount Nebo 2 11,10km
1441 SS8 Mal’n 2 13,46km
 Service

Saturday, 26. April

0853 SS1 Turki 1 14,13km
0921 SS2 Erak Elamir 1 12,47km
1024 SS3 Shuna 1 15,19km
1105 SS12 Baptism Site 1 13,13km
 Service
1306 SS13 Turki 2 14,13km
1334 SS14 Erak Alamir 2 12,47km
1437 SS15 Shuna 2 15,19km
1518 SS16 Baptism Site 2 13,13km
 Service

Sunday, 27. April

0737 SS17 Kafrain 1 16,49km
0810 SS18 Wadi Shuelb 9,18km
0913 SS19 Jordan River 41,45km
 Service
1130 SS20 Kafrain 2 16,49km
1203 SS21 Wadi Shuelb 9,18km
1306 SS22 Jordan River 41,45km

Read more about the Jordan Rally on www.jordanrally.com, and follow the action on www.pettersolberg.com and www.wrc.com.

4 of 15 events of this years championship is completed, and Rally Jordan is coming up. For the first time in the World Rally Championship there will be an event in the Middle-East. Jordan is the first Arab nation to host a WRC-event.

Jordan is a monarchy in the Middle-East, with borders to Syria in north, Iraq in north-east, Israel in the west and Saudi Arabia in south-east. Jordan has coastline to the Dead Sea in west. Jordan is a desert-country, 92.300km2 with nearly 6 million inhabitants. The main-language is Arabic, but most of the Jordanians speak English. The currency is Jordanian Dinar.

If you are going to Jordan, it is easy to fly into Jordans capital, Amman. Rally Headquarter and servicepark are placed along the Dead Sea, only 50k’s from Amman. Temperature is expected to be around 40 degrees Celsius during daytime, and around 20 degrees Celsius during night-time. The surface is gravel, and some of the stages are actually at 400 metres below sea level.

55 cars are on the entrylist for Rally Jordan, and the rally starts 24. April 2008.