Solberg to leave the WRC

Petter Solberg has broken the news he won't be competing in the WRC in 2013, marking an apparent end to the charismatic Norwegians 15-year career in rallying's top level.

In a career that spanned 188 world rallies, Solberg can lay claim to 13 wins, 15 podiums, 456 fastest stage times and 852 World Championship points, and, most importantly, the 2003 World Rally Championship.

However the increasingly difficult economic times, coupled with Ford's factory-supported team withdrawal leaving a lack of competitive seats, lead to Solberg making the decision to put a halt to his WRC career, to “explore and direct focus in a different direction in his successful and decorated career”.

“I am so grateful and happy for what I have experienced during my 15 years in the WRC. For now it’s really quite sad, you know, I would have loved to have driven for a few more years, but I do realise there will not be a WRC programme for me next year. I have said I am willing to drive for free, but at this point, I will not pay to drive. This is not to say that you will never again see me in a WRC car, but for now, I think it’s best.” he said.

Even though he has left the team and was reportedly told he was to pay over $2m to hold onto his seat, Solberg bore M-Sport no ill feeling, and wished them the best of luck in the future.

“I know I am good enough to fight in the top for many years still, but I fully understand the difficult financial situation 2013 for M-Sport, and of course I wish the team all the best for the future.” he added.

Malcolm Wilson said this about his former driver: “It will be strange to begin a WRC season with no Petter Solberg in the service park, and I will miss him on a personal as well as a professional level. When we first signed him back in 1999, he was a fresh-faced youngster with a lot of potential and equally a lot to learn, and when he returned to Ford more than a decade later as a world champion, it was like he had come home.”

Always dedicated to his supporters, of whom there are many, Solberg said: “The sport has given me so much, but I want to give a special thank you to all of my fans that have supported me through thick and thin, and given me such a great feeling about what I do, and for being a large reason of why I do it. I do hope you all understand, and I hope you’ll continue to follow me on to my next venture. I promise to bring you something worthy of this. My team and I are hard at work as you read this, and we can’t wait to let you know what are plans are.”

Solberg's career of extreme highs and equal lows began when he sent a video of his rallying career, then to date, to M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson. Impressed with the young Norwegian's talent, Wilson sends for him to go to Cumbria and undergo fitness tests and a driving assessment. A test contract with some rallies included was signed, and the ball had begun rolling.

His first major test as a Ford driver came on only his second works event. Initially signed as a junior driver, Solberg was put into a Ford Focus WRC for, of all events, the Safari Rally. Thomas Radstrom was out injured, and Solberg was nominated points scorer. He scored an incredible fifth placed finish to his credit.

2000 saw Solberg begin his infamous career with Subaru and Prodrive. In his first two years with the team, he played a junior driver role again, assisting Richard Burns to the 2001 Driver's Title, however in 2001 he took his first podium finish, second in Greece. An extremely competitive 2002 season saw him take second overall in the Driver's Standings, and also take his first overall win in Wales. This season would set him up well for a magnificent 2003 season.

Three wins and seven podiums left Solberg in a tangible position going into the traditionally wind and rain swept Wales Rally GB. He fought tooth and nail with title rival Loeb, and some truly unbelievable times over the final stages rocketed him into the lead and handed him his World Title. The realisation he had accomplished his dream was shown at the end when he leapt from his car and onto team-mate Tommi Makinen, sprinting then over to his loyal band of supporters.

The following 2004 and 2005 season's netted him second place in the Driver's table in both season's, his title defence had almost been successful had a wayward kangaroo found itself in the way of a travelling Subaru. Two poor results in the final two rounds of 2005 didn't help his cause, neither.

2006, 2007 and 2008 were barren season's for Solberg and the Subaru team. With the team scoring not one win and only six podium placings, it wasn't the ideal final season's for the once champion team. To the shock of the rallying world, Subaru withdrew from the WRC, leaving Solberg without a drive.

In a display of courage, determination and sheer grit not seen in any other sport, Solberg picked himself up, dusted himself off, bought himself a car and set about setting up his own team. He founded the Petter Solberg World Rally Team with only a Citroen Xsara WRC, an articulated lorry and a handful of men and women behind him.

He spent three years under his own banner, running at first the Xsara, graduating to a C4 WRC and later a Citroen DS3 WRC. Even though he funded quite a lot himself, and did a lot of the behind the scenes work himself, he still managed third in the 2010 Driver's Standings. He managed 12 podiums in his time as a privateer driver.

2012 saw him return to the Ford team, with team boss Malcolm Wilson saying it was like he had “come home”. His year began with a consistent run of form, but ultimately ended with poor results, and fifth in the final standings. He was sure, given another season and having learned the car, he could have become a winner again.

Alas it wasn't to be, but this surely isn't the end for the man they call Hollywood. In the 1980's Niki Lauda returned to Formula One after a three year layoff, and won another World Title. Who says Petter can't do the same....