Solberg's car ready for Portugal

The Norwegian crashed out of the Auckland-based event while running third and pushing for the lead of the event on the final morning.

The damage wasn't as bad as first thought, confined largely to a front corner, but it still took the Petter Solberg World Rally Team a week of work to re-prepare the car ahead of the sixth round of the World Rally Championship.

Solberg is upbeat about his chances on the Algarve this week, saying: "We are now ready for Portugal. Being fifth on the road gives us a good starting position and we plan to make the most of it. We didn't finish in New Zealand the way we wanted, but during the rally we definitely showed that we are able to fight with the big teams."

Solberg's crash in New Zealand ended his run of three successive podium finishes.

The France-based team wasn't the only outfit in a rush to finish cars in time for the start of the Faro-based Rally of Portugal ' Ralliart Italia turned in an exceptional effort to field all five Pirelli Star Driver Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Xs for Sunday's Rally of Portugal promotional roadshow in Porto. Two of the PSD cars were destroyed on last month's Rally of Turkey.

Initially, Ralliart Italia team principal Mario Stagni had admitted it was doubtful that he would be able to run all five cars this week, but after cramming two months' work into just three weeks, all five drivers will be out for their second PSD appearance starting on Thursday evening.