Henning relishes asphalt challenge

Stobart driver Henning Solberg said his recent top-10 finish on Rally Bulgaria has vindicated his decision to step out of a Ford Focus RS WRC for the remaining asphalt rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship.

Solberg won the Group N category of the Borovets-based event by more than three minutes, beating the similar machine of Denis Kuipers and Solberg’s countryman Eyvind Brynildsen, who was driving a Skoda Fabia S2000.

Solberg returns to the more familiar surroundings of his Focus RS WRC for next week’s Rally Finland, but on Rally Deutschland, Rallye de France and the Catalunya Rally he will be in the Fiesta.

“It was a good decision,” said Solberg. “I really enjoyed driving the Fiesta, it’s a real tarmac car and it feels like it. It’s like a go-kart. I don’t know what it is with the Focus, I just can’t seem to understand it on asphalt - I just can’t make it work for me. It’s not like that with the Fiesta, I really enjoyed it.”

Solberg added that he hoped his efforts would go some of the way to getting rid of his reputation as a driver who favours loose surfaces.

“That’s not true,” he said. “I really like driving on tarmac and I can do it. I have done a lot of work in a go-kart to make it all work and, let me tell you, there’s not many people in the WRC who would be quicker than me in a gearbox kart around a track. The Fiesta feels and handles like one of those go-karts - and with this being the base for the future car, it’s very encouraging for next season!”