Petter Solberg completes first rallycross test in Citroen DS3

The 2003 World Rally Champion ran his car for the first time on Thursday and Friday at the Circuit de l'Ouest Parisien, close to Paris, and said it was even quicker than he had anticipated.

With Solberg only committing to the full season in February, his team has spent the last fortnight living in the Torsby factory and working around the clock to get the car up and running.

Click here to see more images from Solberg's rallycross shakedown

"The car is amazing," Solberg said. "When you go off the line it's like having a rocket strapped to your ass.

"I can't believe how much work we have all put into this - it's not just the building of the car, but the building of the team, finding the sponsors and making the business side of things work as well. But now we are ready."

While Solberg said putting on a show for British fans was important to him, he admitted that his 2013 programme retains a serious side.

It is his first year away from the WRC since 1999.

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"I want to win," he said. "I don't do anything without wanting to win.

"Of course, the show is important and we want to make people smile, but I'm desperate for the win as well.

"There's going to be a lot of competition in England and we won't know how good our car is until we get away from the grid, but it's going to be fantastic finding out."