Joined
·
33,658 Posts
WRC - Subaru Extends Solberg's Contract
Banbury, UK – 6/21/2006
Despite a disastrous 2006 season so far, Subaru and Petter Solberg, winners of the 2003 World Rally Championship title, have decided to extend their relationship for another three years.
In a year in which only Ford has remained alongside Subaru as a 100% factory effort in the WRC, the Japanese manufacturer is having one of its worst campaigns in recent memory. Solberg currently lies sixth in the driver's standings, 53 points away from leader Sebastien Loeb.
"It is very important for Subaru to have another three seasons with Petter and we are very positive about our future prospects in the World Rally Championship," Subaru principal Toshi Azuma stated. "Petter developed his driving career with Subaru, in 2003 he became the WRC drivers' champion with us and now we want to give him the opportunity to develop further.
"He has also been closely involved in Subaru's road car development over the years. Because he understands what it takes to develop road cars, he performs his role perfectly. His enthusiasm and personality has a positive effect not only to the rally team but to Subaru supporters around the world."
The Norwegian reaffirmed his loyalty to the Prodrive-run operation,
"At Subaru I have a very good team of people behind me, that's everybody including the mechanics, engineers, management and those at Subaru in Japan," he said. "I had some problems in my career when I started at Subaru but the team supported me very much and since then we have always stood together, through good and bad things."
Subaru expects to announce Solberg's future teammates after the FIA World Council confirms the 2007 WRC calendar next month.
Banbury, UK – 6/21/2006
Despite a disastrous 2006 season so far, Subaru and Petter Solberg, winners of the 2003 World Rally Championship title, have decided to extend their relationship for another three years.
In a year in which only Ford has remained alongside Subaru as a 100% factory effort in the WRC, the Japanese manufacturer is having one of its worst campaigns in recent memory. Solberg currently lies sixth in the driver's standings, 53 points away from leader Sebastien Loeb.
"It is very important for Subaru to have another three seasons with Petter and we are very positive about our future prospects in the World Rally Championship," Subaru principal Toshi Azuma stated. "Petter developed his driving career with Subaru, in 2003 he became the WRC drivers' champion with us and now we want to give him the opportunity to develop further.
"He has also been closely involved in Subaru's road car development over the years. Because he understands what it takes to develop road cars, he performs his role perfectly. His enthusiasm and personality has a positive effect not only to the rally team but to Subaru supporters around the world."
The Norwegian reaffirmed his loyalty to the Prodrive-run operation,
"At Subaru I have a very good team of people behind me, that's everybody including the mechanics, engineers, management and those at Subaru in Japan," he said. "I had some problems in my career when I started at Subaru but the team supported me very much and since then we have always stood together, through good and bad things."
Subaru expects to announce Solberg's future teammates after the FIA World Council confirms the 2007 WRC calendar next month.
