Henning Solberg eyes home podium

When Norway last featured on the World Rally Championship calendar in 2007, Stobart driver Solberg completed a Ford one-two-three behind the two factory cars, and he is determined to repeat that result this year.

"This is the event I have been looking forward to for quite a while now," said Solberg, who took a surprise fourth place in the season-opener in Ireland despite having previously struggled on wet asphalt.

"We had a really good run in Ireland last weekend and I have taken a lot of confidence from that so hopefully we will be able to come away with a good result on my home event; top-three would be great.

"I know the stages reasonably well, they are in really good shape, and I think this will be a great rally; really exciting for all the Norwegian fans and a great chance to show (sponsor) Expert and Stobart what I can do."

Ford WRC team boss Malcolm Wilson is also expecting great things from Solberg on home ground.

"I believe that Norway will be a fantastic opportunity for the Stobart team to collect another podium and bag some valuable manufacturer points," said Wilson.

"Henning has proved his speed here in the past and he has learnt a lot since the last running of this event; so a top-three for him is definitely not out of the question."

But after Solberg's Ireland result, Rally Norway boss Even Wiger thinks he could even be a victory contender at home.

"I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were watching the winner of Rally Norway," Wiger said.

"Henning just seems to be driving better than ever and with all his support from the Norwegian fans from the very first metre at Bjerkebanen on Thursday 12 February, he is good enough for his first WRC win."

In the last Rally Norway Henning narrowly beat his younger brother Petter Solberg to the final podium spot. With Petter entering a Citroen Xsara run by his home team in Norway, the siblings could end up in a similar fight, although Henning said he would not be focusing on his brother.

"Everyone is talking about the big battle with Petter but I'm not worrying about him," he said. "I just want to go as fast as I can for as long as I can."