Petter Solberg: Norwegian Star

Petter Solberg is one of the most charismatic and popular drivers in the rally WRC. Despite the fact that during his career he had only once won the title of champion, the crowd of his fans appear at each stage of the WRC, to greet their hero. Petter Solberg was born on November 18, 1974 in the town Spideberg, Norway. He began his racing career when he was only eight years old. Solberg drove through the fields, scattered around the farm of his parents, near Oslo. His father was a circuit racer, and the early years of Petter and his brother Henning inherited affection for cars and motorsports. When Petter was only 11 years old, he helped his father repair and assemble racing cars. Being too young for this competition, Solberg carried away by radio-controlled toy cars, and at age 13 became the champion of Norway. Debut at the tournament came in the Norwegian championship in autocross in 1992 - just two days after the receipt of rights. The debut race was not brought success. But already at the next race he won. Petter quickly progressed from autocross through rallikross to hillclimbing on Ford Escort MK2, which gave him a brother. In 1995 Petter has received from his older brother Volvo 240 and became the champion of Norway's rallikrossu and hillclimbing. In 1996, Solberg again left no chances to their opponents and won 19 stages out of 21, becoming a double champion. In September 1996, Petter debuted in the rally car's brother, and this time it was a Toyota Celica ST165. The next season he got Toyota Celica ST185, a former car Redstroma Thomas, where he again won the Norwegian hillclimbing and ranked fifth in the Rally Championship in Norway. In 1999, Solberg signed a contract with a team of Ford World Rally Team. His debut in Sweden. Shortly thereafter, Petter career received an unexpected boost from a disaster, it caught the teammate. When Thomas was injured Redstrom before Safari Rally, Petter, despite the change at the last moment, the ignorance of the site and a new car Focus WRC, along with his co-driver Phil Mills finished overall in the 5-th place. In August 2000, Petter joined the Subaru World Rally Team. Next year, the Subaru was frankly a disaster - for the entire season were recruited only 11 points and, as a result, only 10 th place overall. But the zeal and diligence continuously progressed Solberg were rewarded in the 2002 season Petter becomes vice-champion. Beautiful car, reliable co-driver and a great team become a real help in the most important and memorable season for a career Norwegian. After winning 4 victories during the season, becoming the champion Solberg WRC 2003. The long-awaited title has been achieved thanks to the excellent final segment of the championship - in the last five races Solberg three times rose to the top of the podium. The next two years brilliant performances Sebastien Loeb of Citroen dashed Petter all attempts to repeat its success, and he was forced to settle for second place. The beginning of the 2006 season was marked by the extension of a contract with Subaru for another 3 years. "We are very happy that Petter is still with us, this is great news for the team. Over the past six years we have made good friends with Petter. Beginning this season WRC was very difficult for the team, our results are far below the targets, but the decision Petter - the clearest evidence that we can regain lost ground. We believe that it is now moving in the right direction from a technical point of view. We have a plan, and we hope that we can fully restore the competitiveness of the car for a few months. Petter believes in us, he believes that we give it to victory ", - said at the time executive director, Richard Taylor, Subaru team. "First of all, I need a victory. I want this and I and the team. More recently, we had a difficult situation - we do not achieve the desired goals. But I've seen development strategy - which is why I feel very confident, extending the contract with Subaru. My team has always achieved excellent results, we will return again and start winning stages WRC. Some have gone as soon as the team has had problems - but it's not about me. I'm staying and I will ascend to the podium with the people who won in the past ", - commented on the signing of the contract, Petter Solberg. However, while ambitious team and the pilot did not find its development. Championship in 2006 Solberg finished only 6-th place. In 2007, a team that has always fought for the top places, has won only two podiums. Last season, the battle was reduced to a confrontation with his own technique, which virtually every race faltering. It remains to wait for the new car - Subaru Impreza WRC 2008. If, together with a new test driver Mark Martin team will produce a stable competitive car, then gradually the situation might change for the better. Honors Petter Solberg: 2007 - Fifth place in the Championship WRC 2006 - Sixth place in the Championship WRC 2005 - Second place in the Championship WRC 2004 - Second place in the WRC Championship 2003 - Champion WRC 2002 - Second place in the Championship WRC 2000 - Contract with the Subaru World Rally Team 1998 - Champion in Group A Rally Norway 1997 - Norwegian hillclimbing Champion 1996 - Champion Norwegian rallikrossu and hillclimbing 1995 - Champion Norwegian rallikrossu and hillclimbing