Solberg Hopes for a Loeb Mistake
Petter Solberg says he is now relying on a mistake from Citroen's Sebastien Loeb to win the Wales Rally GB
The Subaru driver went into the day in second, only 9.9 seconds behind the Citroen driver, but he lost time on all three of the day's stages so far. He is now 23.7 seconds behind the Frenchman.
Solberg said he pushed his Impreza as hard as possible on the three stages and that if he went any faster it would be dangerous.
"I'm tyring hard and I still hope to win the rally, but Loeb has to do a mistake," Solberg told Autosport-Atlas. "It is the only way. I can't do more than I do now. It is going to be difficult. As I said before the rally, everything is difficult this year.
"If I went any faster, I am coming into a dangerous area, and that sort of speed can't be kept up over five or six stages. You can only do it for one stage or half a stage maybe. I have so much experience, I know where the limit is.
"There is nothing we can change is service today to make us go any quicker. We just to have look forward to all the other things that are going to happen with the car in the future and engine."
With Ford having a bad rally following Toni Gardemeister's disqualification, the Japanese manufacturer can close the gap on the blue oval in the race for third in the manufacturers' title. Subaru is currently 10 points behind.
"The manufacturers' title is a very important so we will take the rest of the event step by step," Solberg added.
About this article
| Series | WRC |
| Drivers | Sébastien Loeb , Henning Solberg |
| Author | Tim Redmayne |
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
This week's Arctic Rally Finland will bring the World Rally Championship into new territory. And, almost without exception, the service park can't wait for the subzero challenge to commence
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
Evans on the talking points of WRC 2021
He came close to the title last year, and now Toyota's Elfyn Evans gives his verdict on what to expect from 2021 as the World Rally Championship prepares to reconvene for the Monte Carlo season opener
Why Britain's continued WRC absence is a wake-up call
OPINION: With Rally GB dropping off the World Rally Championship calendar for the second year in a row, one of Britain's best-attended sporting events faces an uncertain future. It's an unfortunate situation that points to troubling times ahead
