Henning Solberg wins Rally Norway

Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud were the soverign winners of Rally Norway. After a faultless rally, the Peugeot duo were over five minutes ahead of their nearest rivals in Norway's candidate event for the FIA World Rally Championship.

"We've had two fantastic days. The rally has been fun and so smooth it felt easy. We have had no problems either with the driving or technical issues. The spectators have come out in force and the weather and conditions were totally perfect," said Henning Solberg, who also boasts of and praises the organisers of the candidate race which took place in Hedmark and Oppland (counties) in Norway this weekend.

"All 3,200 volunteer marshals have done a champion job. This was a perfect event, with lovely roads and a very good framework. I just can't believe we wouldn't get a WRC event after this."

5,000 spectators came to Hamar's town square see Rally Norway's start ceremony and official opening by the Prime Minister and Petter Solberg. On both days of the rally, Friday and today (Saturday), there were thousands of spectators cheering on the drivers along the rally course.

Henning Solberg dominated the event and won 13 of the 14 Special Stages. He led the rally from SS3 to the end. The only rival to give Henning and Team Expert a sniff of competition was Swedish Daniel Carlsson, who led the rally after the second stage on Saturday morning. But afterwards the third placed driver from last weekend's Swedish WRC event was left miles behind by Solberg and his Peugeot 307 WRC.

On the rally's twelfth stage Carlsson was forced to retire after going off the road. His Mitsubishi was stuck fast in the snow at Mesna, and with that second place was promptly taken by Mads Østberg in a Subaru, while Anders Grøndal took third.

Rally Norway was Henning Solberg and Cato Menkerud's third rally of the season and without doubt the best so far. Confidence is now at a high on the way into the next WRC round in Mexico.

"I haven't had much time to think about it yet, but I am really looking forward to driving the car on gravel. We have got a test in France before we go to Mexico," said Henning. Rally Mexico takes place 3rd to 5th March.

Results Rally Norway

1. Henning Solberg, Peugeot, 3t 0min 50,7sec
2. Mads Østberg, Subaru, +5min 11,3sec
3. Anders Grøndal, Subaru, +6.19,7
4. Thomas Schie, Ford, +6.51,3
5. Trond Sveinsvoll, Ford, +9.00,1
6. Patrik Flodin, Subaru, +9.18,6
7. Juha Salo, Mitsubishi, +10.49,8
8. Eivind Steffensen, Subaru, +17.21,9
9. Birger Gundersen, Subaru, +17.51,7
10. Bernt Kollevold, Mitsubishi, +17.57,9

Full results available here