Petter Solberg World Rally Team will not compete in Repco Rally Australia next month. With the closing date for entries being today, the decision had to be made and the team will not enter the event.
Solberg's team manager, Ken Rees, commented on Solberg's website, "We decided today that we will not attend Rally Australia. It is our opinion that we will not be competitive enough to challenge for a podium. Instead we will use the time to prepare in the best way for the two remaining events, Spain and Wales, and also continue working on our plans for next season."
"We think it is better to put all our effort into preparing for the two last events of the season."
Since the withdrawal of the Subaru World Rally Team at the end of last season, Solberg has entered all but one WRC events this season in his private team, with mixed results. Driving a Citroen Xsara, Solberg has struggled to match the speed of his rivals and has endured a number of mechanical problems. His best result this season was third in Rally Sardinia.
Solberg will be sadly missed by Aussie fans. His outgoing personality and 'never say die' attitude has earned him a legion of fans right around the world, with Australia no exception.
Meanwhile, Solberg is working on a deal to drive a Ford Focus RS WRC 08 on Rally GB in a bid to win a round of the WRC for the first time in four years.
"I'm looking at many different things for Rally GB, the Focus is one of the things I'm thinking about," Solberg told AUTOSPORT.
"If I do it, I would do it to try and win the rally, of course, that's the plan. "I have to work out what is possible right now. I know the rally really well and I think I would stand a chance.
"At the end of the day, both the Ford and the Citroen are winning cars, I don't care which car it is - I just want to win again!" he said.
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