Solberg convinced he’s on the brink of WRC victory

Petter Solberg says it’s only a matter of time before he returns to winning ways in the World Rally Championship.

Solberg, 35, last won at WRC level on Rally GB in September 2005. But after coming close to victory on Rally Japan last week, the Norwegian is convinced that it’s a case of when rather than if he will win again.

“I’m just getting so close now to winning,” said the 2003 world champion. “I just need these small, small details to be right and then I can do it, I know I can and I know that even more after Japan because my times were very good and I was leading. I could have taken [Sebastien] Ogier that’s for sure.”

Since establishing his own Petter Solberg World Rally Team in the aftermath of Subaru’s withdrawal at the end of 2008, Solberg has finished on the podium on seven occasions, including landing second three times during the current campaign at the wheel of his privately-run Citroen C4 WRC.

On Rally Japan last week, where he was once again co-driven by Northern Irishman Chris Patterson, Solberg led at the completion of days one and two before eventually losing out on victory to Ogier by 15.7s after being delayed on the final morning by a bent track control arm.

“With my budget the way it is I cannot push to the limit 100 per cent,” said Solberg. “We can’t put new spares on the car as I would like and maybe that caused the problem [in Japan]. I know it’s a problem but what should I do? I don’t have the possibility to do anything about it so I have to use my head. But every stage, every good result I have done myself and with my team and that means so much.”

Solberg will return to WRC action on Rallye de France from September 30-October 3.