Petter Solberg Announces His WRC Team

In little more than a month after Subaru decided to suddenly withdraw from the World Rally Championship, Petter Solberg was able to assemble his very own WRC team.

Solberg displayed his original energy when he proudly introduced his team and new Citroen Xsara WRC in his hometown of Spydeberg a week before the Rally Norway.

"This is a dream come true. I have wanted to put together my own WRC team for a long time, but I must admit I had not planned for it to happen in exactly these circumstances or in this time frame," he said.  "But we are ready now and I am looking forward to this weekend's test and Rally Norway," he added.

Less than two months have passed since Subaru announced its abrupt withdrawal from its World Rally Championship activities, leaving Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills effectively without a ride for 2009.

Solberg has not been working alone in putting together his WRC team.  His wife, Pernilla, has been keenly involved in putting the team together ever since the Subaru withdrawal.

"I promise you Petter did not just sit down and complain or feel sorry for himself," she insisted. “He was on the phone at once, talking to people all over Europe and he was not discouraged in any way by the thought of trying to make meetings and deals happen right in the middle of the Christmas and New Year holiday period."

Solberg has assembled an extremely capable staff, including his new team boss, former Subaru World Rally Team logistics manager Ken Reese.

Solberg said that he wanted "to make some noise at the top." in regards to his targets for this season with his new Citroen.  "We're an outsider surrounded by the manufacturer teams of Citroen and Ford, as well as Henning's Stobart team," he said, referring to his brother.

Solberg will be testing the Citroen Xsara WRC this weekend in Norway under the same conditions expected for the rally.
 
The Petter Solberg World Rally Team intends to enter in the 11 remaining WRC rounds this season. The team will debut in Oslo this Thursday, Feb. 12 with the opening super special stage of Rally Norway.