Solberg tops the Citroën runners in Sweden

Petter Solberg was full of praise for his Citroen DS3 WRC after completing the opening day of Rally Sweden as the French manufacturer’s lead representative.

The 36-year-old Norwegian is 57.4s adrift of countryman and overall pacesetter Mads Ostberg in third overall, despite only completing a one-day test in his new car before the start of the event.

“I’m quite happy with what I have and I know things can be better because you can always improve a lot with any car,” said Solberg, who lost time in the afternoon with a misting windscreen. “We will try some more things tomorrow [with the set-up] but it’s not easy because the conditions have changed a lot today.

“I’m surprised to be third tonight because I was planning to go steady and get the experience of the car but it fits into my hands very quickly and I’m still improving. Today has been about learning the car and it’s very important to get some good points at the start of the world championship. The road position made it difficult today but I am happy with what I have done and with my car.”

Sebastien Ogier is sixth overnight in the first of the two factory DS3 WRCs. The Frenchman was quickest on stage six, Vargasen, to record the car’s first stage win and his first fastest time on snow.

Team-mate and defending world champion Sebastien Loeb is ninth overnight having been hampered all morning and for the early part of the afternoon running first on the road. He also dropped more than one minute with a puncture on Friday’s final test.

Kimi Raikkonen completes the DS3 WRC runners in 11th overall. The ex-Formula One world champion was also slowed by a puncture but coped well in the changing stage conditions.

“The conditions have been very difficult today so I am pleased with what he has done,” said Raikkonen’s co-driver Kaj Lindstrom. “It has not been easy and the puncture was a real shame for him.”