After Subaru's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship, the 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg looked set for a year on the sidelines after he could not locate a position at another team.
However, Petter Solberg is no quitter, and in just over one month, he has created the Peter Solberg World Rally Team.
As he proudly introduced his team and new Citroen Xsara WRC in his home town of Spydeberg in Norway, the original Solberg energy was there for all to see and experience, reignited after a troubled four seasons without a win at the struggling Prodrive run Subaru World Rally Team.
"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 timeframe," he said with a grin.
"But we are ready now and I am looking forward to this weekend's test and Rally Norway," he added with a smile.
Not even two months have passed after since Subaru announced it's definite and immediate withdrawal from the World Rally Championship, leaving Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills effectively without a contract for 2009.
Petter Solberg's wife Pernilla has been actively involved in putting the team together ever since the situation changed.
"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 brought together a team of extremely capable staff, including former Subaru World Rally Team logistics manager Ken Reese who now assumes the role of team boss for the Petter Solberg World Rally Team.
Francois Xavier Demaison takes mechnical and technical responsibility for the car. The Frenchman, who has worked for Peugeot, brings with him three mechanics, also from France, along with Norwegian Tore Dahl and Sven Inge Neby from Sweden. Dahl worked for SWRT previously while Neby is known for his work with the Walfridsson family's various projects.
Karine Vassant from France and British Charles Hodge are the engineers, completing the PSWRT technical team. All the little details have been covered, as Solberg also brought in Lorraine Glaister who had been responsible for the Subaru team's hospitality and catering for several years.
In regards to his targets for the coming season with his new Citroen, Solberg said that he wanted "to make some noise at the top."
"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.
First testing with the Xsara WRC will take place in proper Norwegian winter conditions on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February.
After missing the first round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally Ireland, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team intends to participate in the 11 WRC rounds remaining this season. The team will debut at Bjerkebanen in Oslo on Thursday 12 February with the opening super special stage of Rally Norway.
Edit: I have uploaded some pictures from the Petter Solberg official website onto this thread. Enjoy!
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However, Petter Solberg is no quitter, and in just over one month, he has created the Peter Solberg World Rally Team.
As he proudly introduced his team and new Citroen Xsara WRC in his home town of Spydeberg in Norway, the original Solberg energy was there for all to see and experience, reignited after a troubled four seasons without a win at the struggling Prodrive run Subaru World Rally Team.
"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 timeframe," he said with a grin.
"But we are ready now and I am looking forward to this weekend's test and Rally Norway," he added with a smile.
Not even two months have passed after since Subaru announced it's definite and immediate withdrawal from the World Rally Championship, leaving Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills effectively without a contract for 2009.
Petter Solberg's wife Pernilla has been actively involved in putting the team together ever since the situation changed.
"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 brought together a team of extremely capable staff, including former Subaru World Rally Team logistics manager Ken Reese who now assumes the role of team boss for the Petter Solberg World Rally Team.
Francois Xavier Demaison takes mechnical and technical responsibility for the car. The Frenchman, who has worked for Peugeot, brings with him three mechanics, also from France, along with Norwegian Tore Dahl and Sven Inge Neby from Sweden. Dahl worked for SWRT previously while Neby is known for his work with the Walfridsson family's various projects.
Karine Vassant from France and British Charles Hodge are the engineers, completing the PSWRT technical team. All the little details have been covered, as Solberg also brought in Lorraine Glaister who had been responsible for the Subaru team's hospitality and catering for several years.
In regards to his targets for the coming season with his new Citroen, Solberg said that he wanted "to make some noise at the top."
"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.
First testing with the Xsara WRC will take place in proper Norwegian winter conditions on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February.
After missing the first round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally Ireland, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team intends to participate in the 11 WRC rounds remaining this season. The team will debut at Bjerkebanen in Oslo on Thursday 12 February with the opening super special stage of Rally Norway.
Edit: I have uploaded some pictures from the Petter Solberg official website onto this thread. Enjoy!
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