Solberg recounts Portugal woe

Petter Solberg says losing out on victory on Vodafone Rally de Portugal was the moment that frustrates him the most about his 2012 FIA World Rally Championship campaign with the factory Ford team.

Solberg, who has announced he won’t be competing in the WRC in 2013, was in prime position to win the gravel event in the Algarve when he skated off the road in treacherous conditions and retired. Although he fought back to finish third after restarting, Sebastien Loeb’s exit earlier in the rally meant Solberg should have capitalised by taking top spot in his Fiesta RS WRC.

“Looking back on 2012 overall, I’d have to say it’s been disappointing, very disappointing,” Solberg told the Crash website. “The worst event was Portugal. We were handed that rally on a plate, and we threw it away. Yes, the fight back to finish third in the end was satisfying, but it could have been so much more.”

Solberg eventually finished fifth in the final table following a tough end to his season. “We went into the year with such high hopes,” he admitted. “Although we started off strongly and had a good first half of the season, over the second half, nothing seemed to go right. I don’t know, perhaps I was just trying too hard to win.”