Solberg samples new Impreza

Solberg was unavailable for comment on his first run in the car - codenamed the S14 - but SWRT managing director Richard Taylor confirmed that both Solberg and his teammate Chris Atkinson had completed two days of testing each on the Italian island.

"It was always in the plan that they [Solberg and Atkinson] would drive the car for the first time this week," Taylor told autosport.com. "The test was part of the development process. I have no comment to make on the technical aspect of the test, but I will say that we are pleased with this stage of the programme."

The team's full-time test driver Markko Martin was on hand for the duration of the four-day test, which concludes with Atkinson's final time in the car tomorrow.

The team has been running the car - with Martin at the wheel - for much of the year and it's no secret in the WRC that much rides on Subaru's first ever hatchback rally car. The team haven't won a rally since Rally Great Britain in September 2005, making the last 25 months comfortably their longest winless streak since the marque's first victory in 1993.

Subaru's recent upturn in form - it came close to scoring second and third in Argentina - was halted on the recent Jordan Rally. Solberg's Impreza WRC2007 burst three dampers and left the Norwegian fuming about the state of the car's suspension.

The 2003 champion's event went from bad to worse when he rolled the car out of the event on Sunday.

Atkinson did manage to collect a third consecutive podium, placing the sister Subaru third in the Middle East, but the Australian managed to contain his enthusiasm, saying: "Okay, we're third and that's great - but at the same time I'm not sure how this has happened. We're five minutes behind the winner. We still have work to do."