Solberg: close competition key to IRC decision

Petter Solberg has said the close competition in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge was one of the key reasons why his team is contesting seven rounds of the all-action series this season.

Solberg’s Sweden-based PS Engineering concern will run a single M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 for rising star Patrik Flodin with support from Hankook tyres.

The former world rally champion Solberg (pictured) has experience from the IRC following his outing in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 on Rallye Monte-Carlo in January 2011. He said: “I know how competitive the IRC is when I drove in Monte Carlo and saw it for myself. But actually I think Patrik can do very well, he has a lot of talent.”

Swede Flodin, 27, has one IRC start to this name when he took part on Rally Russia in 2009 driving a Subaru Impreza. He will begin his return to the series on May’s Tour de Corse and will tackle a total of five rounds on asphalt and two on gravel.

“It should be very interesting for him but we have a lot of work to do with testing and making a good plan,” said Solberg. “Corsica is a very, very tricky rally, one of the most difficult, that’s for sure. But I can definitely pass on some experience and I hope tha’ts an advantage for him. We’re going to do some testing together and I will be in the car with him: we have to do that really so I can help him properly.”

Following Tour de Corse, Solberg will contest the GEKO Ypres Rally, Rally San Marino, Sibiu Rally Romania, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Rally Sliven and Rallye Sanremo.