 'Petter and Chris on the podium at the end of Rally Australia.' Press release: Petter Solberg WRT
Photo: Petter Solberg WRT
Rally Australia has finished with Petter and Chris on the Podium in third place overall. The final day began with second fastest stage times for the Petter Solberg World Rally Team through the first passes of 14.83kms Bucca and 30kms Plum Pudding, both of which would be repeated in the afternoon. The morning saw a high-speed roll and retirement for Evgeny Novikov and a roll for Henning Solberg although Henning was able to continue and finish the rally.
Jari-Matti Latvala had started the day as rally leader but was overtaken by his Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen on SS25 where the Citroën’s of Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier, who were both competing under SupeRally regulations after retiring on day one, also traded positions before the final Power Stage. A third place finish on the Power Stage gained Petter and Chris an extra bonus point, while Sebastien Loeb took the maximum three bonus points from the stage.
- I’m so happy with the weekend and to have a podium again, says Petter Solberg.
Mikko Hirvonen is the winner of Rally Australia for the third time in a row moving him up a place to second behind Loeb in the driver’s championship, while team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala made it a Ford one-two by finishing second. Petter and Chris finish rally Australia in third place overall.
– Everything has worked perfectly over the weekend and to be able to be up there, doing the same pace as the others is so great. I have really enjoyed driving this weekend, and am happy with both the car and my own performance. For sure, I want to be even faster, but this is as good as it gets at this moment. It’s been good fun this weekend and to manage to get that extra point for the power stage is just an extra bonus today!
The next event is Rally de France Alsace 29th September
Overall classification Rally Australia:
1. Hirvonen, Ford
2. Latvala, Ford +14,7
3. Petter, Citroën +44,8
4. Wilson, Ford, +8.45,2
5. Al Qassimi, Ford +12.33,3
6. Paddon, Subaru +17.29,3
7. Kosciuszko, Mitsubishi +19.01,3
8. Saliuk, Mitsubishi +21.08,5 |
