Peugeot and Suzuki conduct thorough test in Norwegian winter conditions

This weekend Henning Solberg tested his  Peugeot 307 WRC in proper Nordic winter conditions.  He made his preparations for next week’s Swedish Rally and Rally Norway, at the WRC Test Camp Haslemoen.

WRC Test Camp Haslemoen is a co-operation between the Norwegian Traffic Centre and Rally Norway.  In addition to Bozian Racing and their Peugeot drivers, Suzuki Rally Team Europe has been at Haslemoen during the last few days to test its WRC cars, Suzuki Swift Super 1600.  The Suzuki team arrived at Haslemoen on Wednesday 25 January and tested all three cars and drivers Per-Gunnar Andersson, Guy Wilks and Urmo Aava on Thursday and Friday. The team’s mechanics are currently preparing the cars to start the Swedish Rally this week, and they are making use of the great facilities at Haslemoen until they depart for Sweden on Wednesday. 

Henning Solberg drove on Saturday and Sunday and was moer than satisfied with how the test went. 

”It’s been a very good test.  Now the car is just how I want to have it, and as long as the conditions in Sweden aren’t too much different from what we’ve had here this weekend, then this is going to be good,” said Henning Solberg, who has a 5th place in last year’s WRC round in Sweden to defend.  He thinks that his chances are even better with his new Peugeot 307 WRC.

“I have already said that I am driving for victory: it feels good, and it’s very exciting.”  On Saturday and Sunday Henning and his co-driver Cato Menkerud tested with the French team from Bozian Racing between Flisa and the Swedish border. On Saturday Henning’s Austrian team mate Manfred Stohl was also present, modifying the setup on his car. The whole team has a base at Haslemoen where they will now prepare the cars for the start of the Swedish Rally in Karlstad on Thursday evening.

There are a lot of things to test and modify on a rallycar before a WRC event.  Henning and the whole team have been very disciplined and working to a fixed test plan to carry out such a thorough test. 

”We began with shock absorbers.  One of the most important things is to find the right dampers and set up for them.  Apart from that we were testing various suspensions, the drive height of the car, brakes and not least tyres,” said Henning Solberg He drove a total of 250km in the weekend test.

“We have never been as well-prepared for a rally as we are now.  It’s rare that we test for two days, so this has been really useful,” says co-driver Cato Menkerud.  In addition to the Swedish Rally, they are also preparing for the highlight of the year at home, Rally Norway which is held on 10th and 11th February.

Conditions were perfect for the test.  Between -5 and -6 °C on Saturday, and even colder on Sunday.  Ice on the roads was thick and solid and the roads were lined with drifts from the snow plough.  Henning Solberg’s orange Peugeot lit up the white winter landscape!     

Published: 2006-01-30 15:44