More Monte misery for Petter

It had been a tumultuous weekend for Subaru's former world champion - who nearly exited proceedings on the very first stage of the rally when a mystery brake problem struck. Solberg fought back strongly on Saturday and was chasing Marcus Gronholm for second when he tore a wheel from his Subaru Impreza on the famous Col du Turini this morning.

"It is so frustrating," he said. "We were close to a good result and I wasn't driving over the limit. I just made a mistake, braked late and got caught out."

Solberg rarely has a happy time in Monte Carlo. The winner of ten rallies elsewhere has yet to finish above fifth on the season opener and was cursing his misfortune in the Principality again this weekend.

"It seems like this sort of luck is with me every time in Monte Carlo," he said. "We made no mistakes all rally, we were catching-up places, everything was perfect - and then this."