PSWRT Team Chief Ken Rees is convinced that Petter Solberg can claim his first win since the Rally GB in 2005.
The last time Solberg won a WRC event, he was fighting and beating Sebastian Loeb, in the Subaru Impreza WRC2005. From 2006 until 2008, Solberg and the SWRT hit a run of poor form resulting in a dismal three seasons.
In 2010, Solberg has claimed four podiums this year in his private Petter Solberg World Rally Team Citroen C4.
“There are six events coming up and we’ve just proved we’re competitive on asphalt. Okay it won’t be easy on Tarmac against Sebastien Loeb but we can be there if there is any slip. Then you’ve got the gravel events he likes, Finland, Japan and especially Rally GB. There’s a win coming and it’s going to be on the next six.” said Rees
Another plus is to the team is the Solberg-Patterson partnership which started so well in Bulgaria. This brought to an end the Solberg-Mills partnership of the last 11 years. Mills departure did in hamper the team a bit, as Mills had such vast experience, but his replacement in Chris Patterson brings a plus to the team: his smaller stature. Mills was one of the largest competitors in the field, but compensated for this with his unmatchable skill.
“I thought it would take the whole weekend for them to gel but it actually took 10 kilometres of the first stage. It was very hard work but they’ve achieved it well and I’m very pleased with the partnership. They got stronger and stronger and I think it can only go from strength to strength. Nobody can replace Phil but Chris has stepped in and we’re very happy now. We can go straight to the next event and concentrate on performance and podiums.” Rees added.
One thing that will prevent Solberg from claiming his 14th WRC win will be his team's minute budget.
“The full budget we need is never there. We keep robbing Peter to pay Paul and somehow we’ll get to the end of the year. Performances like this help a lot but we have to maintain this performance and it’s not easy. Petter is still working hard on the budget but fingers crossed we’ll make it to the end of the season.”
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