Solberg says Japan win is possible

The Subaru team have struggled in recent seasons, and despite introducing an eagerly-awaited new car earlier this year, they have remained slower than Citroen and Ford.

However Subaru have focused particularly on preparations for the Japanese event during testing, and Solberg is extremely optimistic about the rally.

"My message to the Subaru and WRC fans in Japan is this: please look forward to this rally!" he said.

"We have been shifting our focus to gravel performance for Japan and GB and developing a set-up that will get the best from the car in these conditions.

"Just like when I won Rally Japan in 2004, I will head to Japan thinking of nothing but a victory."

His teammate Chris Atkinson also believes that the Rally Japan will suit Subaru.

"Though the stages are new and the rally has moved to Sapporo, experience shows that I like the narrow high speed stages of Japan which are similar to Finland where I scored my last podium this year," said the Australian.

"I was the first Australian driver to stand on the podium when I scored my very first podium here on the 2005 Rally Japan so I have some good memories. It also tells you that we can perform better when the average speed is faster.

"It's an important rally for us and the team, and I'm looking forward to it. It's the team's home and everyone there is a huge Subaru fan."

Subaru have not taken an 'on-the-road' WRC victory since Mexico 2005, although Solberg was officially credited with the Rally GB win that year after leader Sebastien Loeb deliberately gained a penalty to avoid clinching the title in the event where Markko Martin's co-driver Michael Park was killed.