Petter Solberg

Petter Solberg (November 18th 1974 -) is a pilot of Norwegian rally . Winner of 13 rallys into world, he is the world champion 2003, and finished vice-champion in 2002, 2004 and 2005. His/her brother Henning Solberg is also pilot of rally.

Career

Teenager, Petter had already illustrated himself in some disciplines motorized as an amateur. But in 1995 and 1996 he became Norwegian champion of Rallycross, for, in 1998, to become Norwegian champion of the rallys, which enable him to dispute its first tests into world, with Toyota. It will take part in the Rallye of Sweden and the Rallye of Great Britain 1998. It will control at the time of some tests in 1999, on board a Ford this time, with like better result one 5th place. It is this same year that it will dispute its first race with Phil Mills which currently remains its copilot. In 2000, it still disputes some tests with Ford to acquire one finally 4th place with the Rallye of New Zealand, then join the team with whom it will be raised with the whole world, Subaru, even if it does not mark any more in the four disputed tests this year.

In 2001, Petter will mark four times in fourteen participations, but it will take down its first podium, with the second position with the Rallye of the Acropolis, it will finish 10th championship. 2002 will be one year plus ostentation in results. At the beginning of season, Petter will be overpowered by many concern, which will not prevent it from signing a second place with the Rallye of Argentina. Some podiums will follow during the year. Lastly, to the Rally of Great Britain, Petter which was classified 7th championship, will gain its first victory, and will make a jump of 5 places to become vice-champion of the World, in an unexpected way.

2003 will be the year of the dedication. The season however had badly started, with only one point at the time of the first three races. But then it will give up only once in the season. At the time of the 10 remaining races, it will be by 7 times on the podium and will take down 3 victories, of which its first on Asphalte, which is not its ground of predilection. The last test which can contain 4 pilots, the Rallye of Great Britain, will turn quickly to the duel between him and Sebastien Loeb following the premature fixed prices of Richard Burns and Carlos Sainz. It will gain its 4th victory of the season there, and titrates it.

After 7 races in 2004, Petter pointed with the second rank of general classification at 8 points of Sebastien Loeb, and thus seemed able to take down a second title. But 3 consecutive abandonments which had with pilot errors will destroy its chances. It will return strong at the end of the season by signing 3 victories of row, but it was too late, and it lost its title with the profit of Loeb with two tests of the end. Nevertheless, it finished vice-champion of the World, with 5 victories, that is to say more than the year of its title.

The beginning of the season 2005 let forecast of a new duel against Loeb, but well quickly, this one taken too in advance, and in spite of 3 victories, it is against Marcus Grönholm for the title of vice-champion, that Petter had this time to fight, it took down it accuracy. It still lowered notch in 2006 in particular because of Subaru restive and not very reliable. He announced in June 2006 to resign with Subaru until in 2009, but with 4 podiums, and more no victory, he fell in the 6th place from the championship.

2007 did not start very well because after 3 races, Petter had as better a result one 4th place. A Subaru news was announced for the Rallye of Mexico, and if it finished 2nd Rally of Portugal, it was after disqualification of Ford. Petter replaça sometimes in the rate/rhythm of head at the time of the beginnings of tests but it had evil to keep it during 3 days, and when it did not have to give up, it was classified rather badly. In spite of a solid race in Greece at the semi-season, there were not other podiums until the end of season. Petter will finish 5th championship.

Titles

Victories in Championship of the world of the rallys

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