Solberg wants win or drivers' top 3

Petter Solberg's dream end to this season would be to finish in the top 3 of the drivers championship or to take a rally win – Both of which are apperently acheivable.

“I’m so excited about the rest of the year,” he said. “I think what we are doing as a private team is fantastic. I want to carry on like this and the dream is that I can make third place in the championship, but I would swap that for winning a rally.

“I’m taking risks, you know. I went out in New Zealand and I was trying to win. I was pushing like hell, but I’m doing it without the manufacturer. This is all I can do.”

Fifth place on the Rally de Portugal, where he was running third for most to the rally until a steering problem on the final stage sent Solberg into a plastic barrier, left the Norwegian in fifth in the drivers standings, 13 points behind third placed Mikko Hirvonen & 63 behind leader Loeb.

Despite this, & not being higher than fifth for the last two events, Solberg is confident that he can find success in the second half of the season, which contain his favourite events.

Mechanical problems have not helped the Norwegian's championship charge either.

“The last rally in Portugal was shame. We had gone well, but then we lost two bolts in the steering rack and the car was pretty much undriveable for the first two stages. Then we had something on the car which meant we kept using the front-right tyre more than any other. The team is investigating what caused this, but I think it is something to do with the suspension.” said Solberg

One of the remaining events is Rally GB, which Petter has won 4 times between 2002-2005.

“I love them all. Honestly, I just can’t wait to get out there and start competing on all of the rallies. Certainly, it’s not going to be as much cleaning on the gravel rallies to come, we won’t see the worries for the first car on the road we have seen so far.

"In fact, I think in Finland, Japan and England (Rally GB) we can see it being an advantage if there’s a lot of mud around. But, you know, I don’t care. Like I said, I just want to get back out there and keep on driving and making a mess for the manufacturer teams.” said Solberg