Rally GB 2009

- I am very pleased with the result here. The car worked good, and considering I didn’t test in wet conditions, the weekend has been fantastic. I’ve been improving the whole weekend, and we had some really fast splits at the end. I want to thank Citroën for giving me this opportunity, and my fantastic team for their effort. It was too bad we were so unlucky yesterday, and I tried really hard today to beat Sordo, but it just wasn’t enough, said Petter Solberg after the finish.

It has been a thrilling weekend here in Wales, with Petter and Phil in a C4 on gravel for the first time, chasing manufacturer points for the Citroën Junior Team. The weather conditions have been typical Welsh, with rain, wind and fog on the stages, causing very muddy and slippery roads. A problem with the windscreen wipers cost them some time on Saturday, along with a couple of driver mistakes, but yet they managed to end the rally in fourth place.

The winner of Rally GB is Sebastien Loeb, who then became the World Champion for the sixth time. Mikko Hirvonen has been fighting with Loeb this weekend for both the Championship and the rally, but had to let it go on the final stage when the bonnet came loose on his car. Dani Sordo ended third.

The World Rally Championship 2009 is now completed, and the next season kicks off in Sweden in February 2010.

Overall Classification Rally GB 2009

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroën
2. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +1.06,1
3. Dani Sordo, Citroën +1.07,1
4. Petter Solberg, Citroën +1.28,1
5. Henning Solberg, Ford +6.28,0
6. Matthew Wilson, Ford +7.46,0
7. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +12.11,9
8. Conrad Rautenbach, Citroën +14.27,8

Overall classification day 2 Rally GB

The second day is just finished here in Wales, and Petter, who started the day third has dropped down to fourth in the overall classification. Sebastien Loeb is in the lead and Mikko Hirvonen is second. Dani Sordo is third.

Petter and Phil were fastest on several split sections today, but a few driver mistakes made them loose time. They had a problem in a hairpin and got stuck in a ditch once, and it took some time to get back in line again. A wiper-problem cost them time on the first stage of the day.

Rally GB continues with 4 more stages tomorrow.

Overall classification day 2

1. Sebastien Loeb, Citroën
2. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford +30,2
3. Dani Sordo, Citroën +1.20,1
4. Petter, Citroën +1.44,1
5. Sebastien Ogier, Citroën +4.21,6
6. Henning Solberg, Ford +5.22,8
7. Matthew Wilson, Ford +6.30,0
8. Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford +8.02,5

SS11

- That was a good one, I’m on the case now! Second fastest, eh!!

SS11 Crychan 2
1. Loeb
2. Petter +1,5
3. Hirvonen +4,8
4. Sordo +5,8
5. Ogier +10,7
5. Henning +10,7
7. Wilson +13,7
8. Rautenbach +41,6

SS10

- Went into the ditch, got stuck, lost time. I was on a mission!

SS10 Rhondda 2
1. Loeb
2. Hirvonen +22,9
3. Sordo +1.09,9
4. Petter +1.37,9
5. Ogier +4.01,0
6. Henning +4.49,3
7. Wilson +37,1
8. Rautenbach +1.38,8

Rally GB 9 of 16 stages

- The two last stages was not so bad. Still having problems with the wipers, but will be fixed at service. Will try to get back on third.

Overall classification 9 of 16 stages
1. Loeb
2. Hirvonen +25,0
3. Sordo +1.02,5
4. Petter +1.26,1
5. Ogier +3.44,6
6. Henning +4.27,0
7. Wilson +5.21,3
8. Rautenbach +9.02,9

SS7

Petter and Phil lost a lot of time on SS7, due to wiper problems. The wiper motor is running hot. No spare motor in the car, will be fixed at the next service.

SS7 Rhondda 1 – 35,72kms

1. Hirvonen
2. Loeb +2,4
3. Sordo +4,2
4. Latvala +17,0
5. Petter +24,7
6. Ogier +26,3
7. Østberg +47,5
8. Henning +54,4

Overall classification day 1 Rally GB

- It’s been a good day here in Wales, and I’m really happy with third overall. I’m picking up on the pace now, and the two guys ahead of me is actually fighting for the championship. Another long day tomorrow, and we will keep on pushing.

Petter has had a trouble free day in his C4, and ended the first day in Wales third. – We have done some changes with the balance and the set up, but I feel it’s getting better and better.

A battle for seconds is going on between the top two drivers, as Loeb and Hirvonen are fighting for the championship. When day 1 is over, Loeb is in the lead, but only 5 seconds ahead of Hirvonen. Petter is third, with 40 seconds up to the leader.

Rally GB continues with 6 more stages tomorrow.

Overall classification day 1 Rally GB

1. Loeb, Citroën
2. Hirvonen, Ford +5,3
3. Petter, Citroën +40,5
4. Sordo, Citroën +41,6
5. Ogier, Citroën +2.41,3
6. Henning, Ford +2.50,1
7. Wilson, Ford +3.23,0
8. Rautenbach, Citroën +4.54,6

Petter fastest at Shakedown

- What about that! The car and I are like a team, when it goes fast, I am fast. This will be a thrilling weekend, Petter said after 4 runs at todays Shakedown. – It was wet, muddy and slippery, perfect for us since we only tested on dry conditions.

Shakedown times

Petter 3.16,4
Latvala 3.16,6
Ogier, 3.19,0
Henning 3.19,1
Loeb 3.19,6
Sordo 3.19,7

Ready for Wales Rally GB

It is rally week again, and we are heading to Cardiff for the Wales Rally GB and the 2009 season finale. This year the servicepark is based in Cardiff, but the stages are the same as in 2008.

This will be Petters second rally in the new C4, and he is also nominated as a manufacturer driver for the Citroën Junior Team. Petter Solberg World Rally Team will run the car from our set up, but in cooperation with the Junior Team.

- Wales Rally will be extremely thrilling for me this year. All though we ended 4th in Spain, it felt more like a win, says Petter Solberg. – We have been testing in Wales for two days now and I must say, this car is awesome. – and fast. I want this rally to start now!

Petter and Phil have won the rally in Wales four times before, and ended 4th in 2008.

Wales Rally GB starts on Friday 23 October 2009.

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Test in Wales

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