Solberg reveals his pain in Spain

Petter Solberg has spoken of his despair after dropping out of the race for third place in the final FIA World Rally Championship standings with retirement on stage two of RallyRACC-Rally de Espana this morning.

The Norwegian went out with broken front-left suspension running over what now appears to have been an exposed hole in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, rather than a rock.

“[Thierry] Neuville hit it first and he was out, but he wasn’t there slowing anybody down,” Solberg explained. “There was a hole on the line and as the cars went through the hole was getting bigger and bigger.”

He continued: “With the rain, the road had been washed away and the car was being pulled into this line. The [impact] broke one bolt and we’re out. Chris [Patterson, co-driver] went back and stood near the place to tell everybody else to keep out. If he hadn’t done this, for sure, they would all have been in there. I don’t know what to say, it’s just so bad.”

Following his podium finish on Wales Rally GB in September, the 2003 world champion has endured a tough run by failing to go the distance in France, Italy and now Spain. His exit means the battle for third place in the WRC standings will be between Jari-Matti Latvala and current event leader Mads Ostberg.