Rally Norway a hit with Subaru World Rally Team

Petter Solberg: ”This is totally fantastic!”

Petter Solberg is thoroughly impressed with the Special Stages in Rally Norway. The 2003 World Champion took part in the recce on Tuesday and Wednesday, driving every stage of this weekend’s rally with his co-driver Phil Mills.

”I don’t have the words to describe how good it is. The roads are lovely. It has a totally different character from the Swedish Rally. It’s unbelievably stunning up there in the mountain on SS13,” said an enthusiastic Petter Solberg when he met media at a Subaru press conference in Hamar on Wednesday evening.

”It’s a more demanding course than Sweden. It will really sieve out and find the best drivers. The average speed is lower and overall there are a lot of differences between the roads here and the Swedish rally stages,” he added.

Petter admits he wishes he was taking part in this year’s Rally Norway.

”I’m almost dreading being a spectator. I think I will actually feel physical pain when I’m standing there watching the others driving,” he said. “My accelerator foot is itching!”

But there have been positive sides to being a rally-fan for once.

”I’m having a great time here in Hamar. It’s a new thing for me to experience how sociable and fun rally sport is for those who aren’t participating themselves.”

Petter has no doubts that his big brother Henning is his favourite for this year’s Rally Norway.

”Henning has all the advantages. Both with the car and his experience. I think it will be a very demanding rally and we’ll come to see how many go off the road. You have to pay such close attention and be focused the whole time. There are very few places where you can relax. My tip to Henning is to take it smoothly from the start, test the limits and increase the tempo gradually.” said Petter, who will open the rally with Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at the ceremonial start this evening.