Solberg confused by late failure

The Subaru had retired from leg one after a series of punctures, but made it back to seventh under SupeRally regulations and started the final stage just 10.7 seconds behind sixth placed Jussi Valimaki.

But then the tyre wear problems that Solberg had suspected turned out to be a more serious steering glitch, and he had to limp through the stage, losing over three minutes and falling to ninth place.

"I didn't hit anything," Solberg said. "It started on the stage before. I thought there was some mousse in the tyre because there was a vibration.

"It got worse and worse and worse, and then something just snapped. No steering."

Solberg and Subaru have yet to win a rally in 2006, having struggled for speed on asphalt events and hit problems on most gravel rounds.

The team is confident that it has the pace to compete with Ford and the Kronos Citroens on gravel at least, and Solberg is trying to stay positive.

"We just have to push on and work harder," he said. "I will not give up, I will be back."