Solberg still looking for speed

Subaru and tyre supplier Pirelli have not quite been on the pace of the BF Goodrich shod Fords and Citroens so far in 2006. The team's main aim for the Spanish event is to make progress and helpfully salvage a podium finish.

"I chose the hardest compound Pirelli," Solberg told autosport.com. "The stability was very good, which is what we have spent a long time working on.

"It's a bit annoying not to be on the absolute pace. We've got to keep looking all over the car."

Solberg's co-driver Phil Mills pointed out that although they were off Loeb's pace, they had closed the gap a little since the 2005 Rally Catalunya.

Stephane Sarrazin worked hard on his set-up throughout the first leg, and felt he had made a step forward.

"It is better than this morning," he told autosport.com at the second service halt. "I went halfway with my set-up changes but I should have gone further.

"I still haven't got confidence, but it is better. The trouble is, the time is already lost."

Solberg and Sarrazin finished leg one in fourth and seventh respectively, with team-mate Chris Atkinson eighth in his 2005 specificaton Subaru.