Subaru withdraw Solberg from event

The Norwegian had been running in third position, but he lost 13 minutes when his car became stuck in a ditch in SS10 on Saturday.

The team explained that Solberg had two wheels stuck in the ditch, and he lost so much time because there were no spectators around to help get him going.

SWRT managing director Richard Taylor said: "After losing any chance of a points scoring finish here in Sweden, the team decided to withdraw Petter from the remainder of the rally."

The team could have used the remainder of the rally to prepare for next weekend's Rally Norway, but they have decided to save the car ahead of Solberg's home event.

Taylor added: "The decision was made in order to preserve his car, tyres, and major components such as the transmission, all of which, under WRC regulations, must be used in next week's Rally Norway.

"The decision was taken reluctantly, but we felt it was necessary to give Petter the best possible chance of achieving a podium finish on his home event which starts in just five days time."

Solberg completed the second loop of stages in the morning after his off, and he added that he apologised to his team and fans.

"I'm very disappointed about what has happened," he said. "It was good to be fighting at the top again, and I would have liked to have carried that fight on tomorrow."