Petter Solberg and his co-driver Phil Mills took their third consecutive WRC Rally GB win after a long and exciting battle against Sebastien Loeb. Mikko Hirvonen finishes seventh to score more Championship points for himself and Subaru.
Petter Solberg"It's been the hardest finish I can remember, but one of the best. Sebastien is a very determined guy. We had the most incredible battle, this is a good result for the sport and we put on a great show - but it was not an easy task today! On the first part of Margam it was very slippery. I hit rocks and everything, but when it dried I though, right, let's go and I absolutely nailed it. I tried everything, but it worked out. I'm so pleased for everyone in the team, we have a great team atmosphere and we're going to carry it through to Sardinia."
Mikko Hirvonen"I'm pleased to have finished the event and I think I've got some good experience from it. It's certainly a fast rally and the wet the conditions are unique. The grip level changes so quickly you really do need experience before you can push really hard. On the repeated stages I felt my confidence increasing and my pace notes were working better. I must say, Petter has done an incredible job and I'd love to see onboard footage from the Margam stage. I hope I can do the same next year!"
David Lapworth, Team Principal"That was possibly the most exciting finish to a rally I can remember! Even halfway through the penultimate stage (SS18), Petter still had it all to do. As he went through the stage we started to see the advantage of our tyre choice, but more than anything it was down to Petter's unbelievable commitment to win the rally. I think his last few splits were out of this world. The last two rallies have been a testament to a superb team effort. We had a spell of bad luck, but the way the whole team has pulled together to turn it around has been phenomenal. Petter winning his third Rally GB, and the eighth for Subaru in the last eleven years is proof of the strength of our Pirelli tyres in these conditions. Mikko Hirvonen will have benefited enormously from competing the event in such difficult conditions and he's put in a creditable performance behind the wheel."
The next round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rallye d'Italia Sardinia, starts in two weeks time when teams travel to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Previously hosted in San Remo, this year's Italian round of the WRC will take place on sandy gravel stages rather than twisty asphalt mountain roads. Starting on Friday 1 October, the rally will be based in the resort of Porto Cerve and crews will contest 19 stages and 384.23 competitive kilometres. The event will conclude at 1645hrs on Sunday 3 October.
