Solberg: title dream not over

Petter Solberg is convinced Sebastien Loeb can be caught in the thrilling race for this year’s FIA World Rally Championship crown.

Citroen ace Loeb reached the finish of Brother Rally New Zealand in Auckland last Sunday with a 55-point margin over Solberg, the last driver to win a world title before Loeb began his record of eight consecutive championship triumphs.

“We are third, and okay Loeb is well in front, but we saw last year he retired two or three rallies in a row so it still can happen,” said Ford World Rally Team driver Solberg. “Mikko [Hirvonen, Loeb’s team-mate] is fast so hopefully it will be a very exciting second half of the year that we can really push on hard and give them a fight. But I’m more after a victory than maybe the championship podium - I have enough of them - I want to win.”

The WRC is entering its summer break ahead of the resumption of action in Finland at the start of August. The Norwegian has high hopes of success on the Jyvaskyla-based round.

“With the car and performance like it is we will be fast and we will try to get all the details right,” added Solberg.