Solberg plans comeback charge

Solberg was forced to stop and change the right-rear tyre on his C4 after the Pirelli came off the rim just three miles into the event. Solberg admitted his motivation had taken a dip after dropping more than two minutes to the fastest driver Sebastien Loeb, but he vowed to bounce back.

"I don't know what the problem was," he said. "I felt it starting to bump around a little at the back of the car, so I backed off and tried to be smooth. But then, on a long left hander, it came off the rim. I stopped to change it, but I should have stopped a bit quicker.

"It's very frustrating. But now I'm just going to nail it, nothing else. My championship is riding on this, so I have to be flat out, completely flat out. The motivation is not a problem any more, we'll be back on it this afternoon. I could have been 30 seconds ahead of the Fords, but I'm not - that's how it is. We have to take some risks to keep the championship on."

Solberg also praised the efforts of fellow Citroen driver Dani Sordo, who he felt had driven the best through the morning.

"I know how much s*** is being pulled into the road," said Solberg, "and for Sordo to be doing those times is very impressive. I'm more impressed with him and [Sebastien] Loeb this morning, it's just a shame we're not there fighting with them."