In their first competitive outing in a Citroen under the Petter Solberg World Rally Team banner, Petter Solberg and Phil Mills have made a dream start to Rally Norway. The duo completed the 1.92 kilometre Super Special Stage as the fastest crew and go into today's forest stages as rally leaders.
Tens of thousands of fans braved the -13C temperature to cheer on their Norwegian hero, and despite driving an eight year old car, Solberg didn't disappoint.
Solberg was, naturally, very happy with his efforts but knows there is still a very long way to go.
"This is unbelieveable…I am so happy right now!" he stated on his website.
"Of course, we still have three more days to drive and a lot can happen, but this is a dream start. This was the best thing that could have happened after all the hard work we have put down for the past weeks. A big thanks to everyone that has helped me, and Phil and I will do our best over the weekend."
BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen was second fastest, six-tenths of a second slower than Solberg. Sebastien Loeb was third fastest, followed by another Norwegian, Mads Ostberg.
Hirvonen's team mate, Jari-Matti Latvala, was fifth fastest.
Rally Norway, SS1
1. Petter Solberg, 1:32.8
2. Mikko Hirvonen, 1:33.4
3. Sebastien Loeb, 1:33.5
4. Mads Ostberg, 1:34.0
5. Jari-Matti Latvala, 1:35.1
6. Dani Sordo, 1:35.8
7. Urmo Aava, 1:36.2
8. Henning Solberg, 1:37.0
9. Matthew Wilson, 1:37.5
10. Anders Grondal, 1:38.1
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