Solberg predicts Olympic effort

The rough gravel rallies, particularly the Greece event, tend to favour those who opt for a cautious approach on the fast but rock-strewn stages. This weekend though, reigning world champion Solberg believes it'll be pedal to metal throughout the whole weekend.

"The competition on rough rallies has definitely stepped up. Other teams have improved, and you need high speed all the time now to beat the top drivers," he said. "There's absolutely no room for any mistakes."

The Norwegian has failed to finish at the top in the previous gravel rallies in New Zealand and the last round in Cyprus due to problems encountered on the opening legs on both occasions. At the time though, the 2004 Impreza WRC was a threat at the front which has made Solberg confident that he can perform well this weekend.

Aiding him in his quest is that he will be the fourth driver out on the first day behind his championship rivals Sebastien Loeb (Citroen), Markko Martin (Ford) and Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot), who will clear the loose gravel on the stages allowing him to drive on the hardened base beneath.

"I was very happy with the set-up of the car in Cyprus, and we've only changed small things ahead of Greece," he said. "My strategy will be the same as Cyprus, although I'm not telling you exactly what it is. My starting position of fourth on the road is not too bad either. When I was fourth on the road in Cyprus, Marcus Gronholm was 12th, and my times were not too far off.

"The Subaru has good traction and a good set-up for the conditions in Greece and, as my main rivals will be running in front of me on the first leg anyway, it should be a good fight."