Solberg still a privateer despite DS3 move

Petter Solberg’s team manager says his star driver will remain true to his privateer roots when he contests this year’s World Rally Championship in a Citroen DS3 WRC, despite revealing plans to register for manufacturer points.

Solberg has run his own squad in the WRC since 2009 in conjunction with Ken Rees following the withdrawal of the factory Subaru team from the series at the end of the 2008 season. Rees had been the Subaru team co-ordinator.

Although Citroen Racing will prepare and maintain Solberg’s DS3 from its base in the outskirts of Paris, the car will be run from the Petter Solberg World Rally Team service area on all 13 rounds of the WRC with management and logistical support from Rees and his team, and mechanics from Citroen Racing in France.

“We’ve entered Petter for Sweden under the Petter Solberg World Rally Team banner and when everything has been settled we’ll register as a WRC Team [for manufacturers’ championship] points as well,” said Rees.

“Petter will still be a private entrant and will still be relying on sponsors to get the show going. We still haven’t got a full budget but at least we have the bonus of having a current-specification car this year.”

Rees said he was not sure when Solberg would sample the new-for-2011 DS3 WRC for the first time but insisted that the Norwegian’s lack of experience in the machine wouldn’t hold him back for mounting a world title challenge in 2011 alongside Northern Irish co-driver Chris Patterson.

“Petter adapts quickly to every situation he’s put in so I’ve got no worries he’ll be ready for Sweden,” said Rees. “Because it was such a late agreement we’ve hit a bit of a time snag and Petter is away now for 10 days on the Monte Carlo Rally. But he’ll have a test before Sweden, although I’m not sure where and when.”

Rees added that the Petter Solberg World Rally Team was working on a deal to run a car in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship, which gets underway on Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March.