Petter's Early Rally Days

[pettersolberg29]

I'm trying to do some research into Petter Solberg's early WRC days, especially trying to find video clips and pictures.

If anyone can help to show me video clips, pictures or even models of the following cars it would be really helpful.

1998 Toyota Celica GT-4 in Sweden and GB
1999 Ford Escort in Sweden
1999 Ford Focus in Kenya, Portugal, Finland, Italy, GB
2000 Ford Focus in Kenya, Portugal, Argentina, Greece, NZ and Finland.

Thanks very much. I have reference to all the Subaru and few Xsara rallies, but if anyone has any other pictures of Petter in his earlier days like rallycross, that would be fantastic. Your help is appreciated.

[gloomyDAY]

I can't wait for the floodgates to open on this thread.

Subscribed!

[pettersolberg29]

I hope thats not sarcasm Mr. GloomyDay!

[Fide]

Not sure if it serves to your purposes but is when I by accident "found" Petter aside of the road and he made a joke saying his Subaru was better than mine. (Cordoba - Argentina 2005)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJDPgqnOcpE

[lcd]

Here's a bad landing fpr Petter back In 2000!
One of my favourite photos! ;)
http://www.svtsalvage.com/images/ford_focus_wrc_crash.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks - thats a great picture and crosses one off the list.

[gloomyDAY]

I hope thats not sarcasm Mr. GloomyDay!No, I was being cereal. :)

[JFL]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/Petter-Solberg--med-Volvo-s.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/toyota5d.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/toyota5c.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/toyota5e.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Thats fantastic JFL! Where did you find them?

And what events are the pictures from? I assume the top one is his Volvo Rallycross, is it?

And the Toyota - is that from Rally GB 1998, or is that little bit of snow showing its Sweden 1998? I assumed it was Sweden as this was Petter's only event in the Shell Toyota Team.

[big_sw2000]

A typical Solberg moment in the early days.
Everyone has seen this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODp-TfUjH2M

I will have a chat with my mate, a very big Solberg fan, see what he can dig up for you

[big_sw2000]

It may be worth asking on here, best rally forum i know. If you dont find anything here, then your buggerd
http://www.britishrally.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=
You will have to be a member to view the Threads.

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks big_sw2000. The ones mentioned in the opening post take a bit of finding!

If anyone has any photos of Petter in France, Italy, Australia or GB in 2000 they would also be of great interest to bulk up my collection.
Likewise with 2001 events (all).

[JFL]

Thats fantastic JFL! Where did you find them?

And what events are the pictures from? I assume the top one is his Volvo Rallycross, is it?

And the Toyota - is that from Rally GB 1998, or is that little bit of snow showing its Sweden 1998? I assumed it was Sweden as this was Petter's only event in the Shell Toyota Team.
Hi!
I dont think the Toyota pictures are from a particular events.. Just press photos. He rallied in a team with his brother in the Norwegian championship.
The Volvo picture is a scan of a poscard he gave away under events.. The picture is from a Hillclimb-event.. Can't remember wich..

[big_sw2000]

Just posted a thread on the British rally forum for you. See if anybody can help.

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks - I also added one under the photography section so all avenues are covered!

[big_sw2000]

For some reason i seem quite intrested in this.
What else do you have on Petter, the man is awsome

[big_sw2000]

Deffently worth a try aswell.
http://bbs.scoobynet.com/wales-rally-gb-wrc-422/
Big with Subarus and Petter on there, my faviout rally forum.

[lcd]

Great photos JFL!
That's what they call a flashback! :D

[pettersolberg29]

For some reason i seem quite intrested in this.
What else do you have on Petter, the man is awsome

I'm trying to get a photo and/or video clip of Petter from every rally he has ever taken part in. When I'm finished I hope to make either a website or small book on his career, with info on every part of his professional career.

If there are any specific photos or info you want just ask - it's good to have interest!

[big_sw2000]

I will check through my photos of Rally GB, over the last few years. Will send you any Solberg photos i have. Maybe of use to you.

[pettersolberg29]

I have a huge amount of photos from 2005 onwards, but if you have any of 2004 or before, they would be great. If you PM me with what you have, I'll PM you my e-mail address. Thanks for the help.

[big_sw2000]

MAy be off help to you.
http://www.life.com/search/?q0=petter solberg ford focus
Sorry something wrong with link.
http://www.life.com/image/1031730 Try that, use the back button more photos on there
http://www.life.com/search/?q0=petter+solberg+ford+focus

[pettersolberg29]

Thats great thanks sw2000. A good website - never seen it before.

[calibr]

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4381/26499139.jpg

Here is how the ST205 looks now. Engine is defect and in pices.

CalibR

[JFL]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/pettersfrstebil.jpg
Petter's first RC car.(Henning's old car) 1993 I think...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/petterilntvolvo1994.jpg
Up a class in 1994(Borrowed car, Volvo 240 SN) 250-270bhp?)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/petterlederi1995.jpg
In Henning's old car. 1995.. Leading the pack as usual.. :)

[JFL]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/janfredrikl/pettertesterneoncup.jpg

Petter also tried some circuit racing. Here he is in front of a Neon Cup car..

[pettersolberg29]

JFL you are a legend! How on earth did you find any of them? I've been looking for about 5 years on and off and never saw any of them.

Thanks so much again, and any others you have or any website/people you can recommend would be fantastic.

[big_sw2000]

Right then, got a thread going on Scooby net. See what they can dig up on there.
http://bbs.scoobynet.com/rallying-422/

[pettersolberg29]

Bump!

Anymore gems from JFL? Anyone else have any?

Still have these to go for a complete collection:

1998 Sweden and UK
1999 Sweden, Kenya, Finalnd, Italy and GB
2000 Portugal and GB
2001 Spain, Cyprus and GB
2002 Kenya

Any help appreciated greatly.

[Donney]

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/245/342062.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=342062.jpg)

Solberg GB 2000

[pettersolberg29]

Cheers Donney.

[Donney]

And here's some more:

Catalunya 2001

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6630/cat01psolbergpmills02.jpg

[JFL]

A book written about Petter..In Norwegian(Some good pics)
http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=145981&rom=MP
A video about Petter's way to the WRC http://www.lovefilm.no/film/304572-Veien+til+VM+med+Petter+Solberg.do
http://8mm.no/scripts/public_view_movie.php?id=6598
http://shop.pushvideo.no/search.php?search_query=petter+solberg

[pettersolberg29]

Is there any way to watch the video online? I can't read Norwegian so cannot see if there is any function. Thanks for the help JFL.

[JFL]

Is there any way to watch the video online? I can't read Norwegian so cannot see if there is any function. Thanks for the help JFL.
I'm not sure.. Our fellow forumer "Iskald" could maybe help you.. Maybe you could order the video threw him? Even though it is in Norwegian there is some great footage of Petter's early days on that tape/dvd...

[C64WDU]

http://www.fordmotorsportmodels.com/page12.htm
http://www.fordmotorsportmodels.com/page13.htm

[pettersolberg29]

I'll try Iskald about it.

BTW JFL, you still haven't told me where you got the old rallycross photos from! Is it a asecret, because I would be really interested.

[rx-guru]

I'll try Iskald about it.

BTW JFL, you still haven't told me where you got the old rallycross photos from! Is it a asecret, because I would be really interested.

I guess this guy here http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1059236371&ref=nf has lots of old pics from Henning and Petter doing Bilcross (RX for the poor Norwegian ;) ), Rallycross as well as Hillclimbs on gravel.

It is quite strange. I saw Petter several times doing a demo race during the Norwegian ERC rounds at Lyngås in the 1990s.
But none of my publishers ever wanted pics from this "Guest class" racing and no one has ever told me he would become a Rally World Champion one day. ;)
Therefore I saved my slide films only for the ERC regulars. Some time ago I checked my entire archive to find an old RX pic of Petter, but found only a single portrait taken while he was interviewed after one of his victories.

[pettersolberg29]

Where'd all the other photos go Mr Guru!

[rx-guru]

Thousands and thousands of RX slides and negs in my archive. They must be scanned, whenever needed for a story. No time/use to scan them just to open up a digital archive.
However, when lotsamoney was necessary to start taking digital pics, by the end of the 1990s, I sold all my camera stuff and gave up being a snapper.
Ever since I do just writing and fishing ol’ photos out of my huge picture mess… LOL

[JFL]

I'll try Iskald about it.

BTW JFL, you still haven't told me where you got the old rallycross photos from! Is it a asecret, because I would be really interested.
Honestly I don't remember.. I had them on my old computer.. A Pentium 100.. I fished them out of.. :) But I think some of them are from his book...

btw RXguru... I know many people who want to buy and want to see some photos from the 80's and 90's :)

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks anyway!

[Josti]

Petter Solberg codriven by Cato Menkerud in the Celica GT4, I think at the Lebanon rally 1998.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9165/solberg2.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=solberg2.jpg)

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9471/solberg1.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/my.php?image=solberg1.jpg)

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks Josti - I thought it might be the 1998 Rally GB where Cato was co-driver in a GT4. If anyone can confirm, it'll help. Thanks again Josti.

[rx-guru]

Apropos Lebanon Rally 1998: I remember pretty well that I met Petter at the Westombanan at Arvika during the Swedish ERC round on June 7 1998 and he told me that he was just back from Lebanon.
Pernilla Walfridsson was driving her Mitsubishi Lancer Evo at Arvika as some kind of security vehicle. I guess that weekend was possibly the start of their relationship…

[Iskald]

I'm not sure.. Our fellow forumer "Iskald" could maybe help you.. Maybe you could order the video threw him? Even though it is in Norwegian there is some great footage of Petter's early days on that tape/dvd...

I surely can, as I am actually the producer of the film. It was originally produced in 1999 for VHS. In 2003 it was updated with scenes from the celebration in his home village Spydeberg after he won the world title. The film starts with scenes from his first ever hillclimb in the yellow Escort when he was 18. Following Petter during his first years in national rallycross, hillclimb and rallying was a delight, and the film contains some real gems.

[Iskald]

Thanks Josti - I thought it might be the 1998 Rally GB where Cato was co-driver in a GT4. If anyone can confirm, it'll help. Thanks again Josti.

Sitting in T-shirts this is definitely Lebanon 1998, where he actually won most stages, but had a puncture and lost the victory to Mohammed Bin Sulayem.

[pettersolberg29]

I surely can, as I am actually the producer of the film. It was originally produced in 1999 for VHS. In 2003 it was updated with scenes from the celebration in his home village Spydeberg after he won the world title. The film starts with scenes from his first ever hillclimb in the yellow Escort when he was 18. Following Petter during his first years in national rallycross, hillclimb and rallying was a delight, and the film contains some real gems.

Producer? Impressive!

Does it have any subtitles into English? More than anything I'd love to see this film or clips from it in English. I assume there is no chance of clips from the film being put on a video sharing website?

I'll PM you soon to ask about how I could order the film from you.

[Iskald]

Producer? Impressive!

Does it have any subtitles into English? More than anything I'd love to see this film or clips from it in English. I assume there is no chance of clips from the film being put on a video sharing website?

I'll PM you soon to ask about how I could order the film from you.

Regrettably no english subtitles, as the film is only produced for a domestic market (unless some international producing company would like to do a english version in the future...). And you are right, as this is a professional and commercial product it is not available on video sharing websites.

When Petter arrived in rallycross/hillclimb during the early 90s more or less all championship races he did was covered on television. This means that the available material is possibly more extensive than any other WRC-driver, because his early career is documented in each race from the first hillclimb he ever contested. The same goes for rallying, where television was present from his first proper rally - where he famously rolled the Toyota Celica GT4 borrowed from his brother Henning. Btw. with inboard camera, documenting the crash in dramatic style!

[rx-guru]

@ Iskald: I understood that the 1995 Rally Bjørkelangen (with a Volvo 240 and Henning’s nowadays wife Maud being co-driver) was Petter’s first ever rally. Was/is that no "proper rally"?
The ST165 crash was at 1996 Rally Hedemarken, innit?

[pettersolberg29]

Just thought I'd bring this back incase anyone has come across any more. I'm still in need of photos of Petter from:

1998 GB Celica
1999 Sweden Escort
1999 Finland Focus
2001 GB Impreza
2002 Kenya Impreza

The last two are very hard to find as he retired very early on, but I'm hoping someone can help. Thanks in advance.

[tolis]

Finland 1999:
http://www.rallycars.com/_cgi-bin/show-Finland99.cgi?07

[Xsara Fan]

Just thought I'd bring this back incase anyone has come across any more. I'm still in need of photos of Petter from:

1998 GB Celica
1999 Sweden Escort
1999 Finland Focus
2001 GB Impreza
2002 Kenya Impreza

The last two are very hard to find as he retired very early on, but I'm hoping someone can help. Thanks in advance.

1999 Finland Focus:
http://www.rallycars.com/ftp/Images/Cars/Finland99/IMG0007.jpg
http://www.rallycars.com/ftp/Images/Cars/Finland99/IMG0132.jpg
http://www.rallycars.com/ftp/Images/Cars/Finland99/IMG0018.jpg
http://www.rallycars.com/ftp/Images/Cars/Finland99/IMG0050.jpg

[Xsara Fan]

Just thought I'd bring this back incase anyone has come across any more. I'm still in need of photos of Petter from:

1998 GB Celica
1999 Sweden Escort
1999 Finland Focus
2001 GB Impreza
2002 Kenya Impreza

The last two are very hard to find as he retired very early on, but I'm hoping someone can help. Thanks in advance.

1999 Sweden Escort
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/xsarafan/Solberg-Sweden-1999.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks both!

Down to:
1998 Sweden Celica (sorry got it wrong earlier!)
2001 GB Impreza
2002 Kenya Impreza

[Xsara Fan]

Thanks both!

Down to:
1998 Sweden Celica (sorry got it wrong earlier!)
2001 GB Impreza
2002 Kenya Impreza

2001 GB Impreza
http://www.pf-rallyfoto.cz/Solberg/55.jpg
http://www.pf-rallyfoto.cz/Solberg/56.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks XsaraFan! No idea how you found them - been looking for months if not years and never found one!

Down to:
1998 Sweden Celica
2002 Kenya Impreza

[Xsara Fan]

Thanks XsaraFan! No idea how you found them - been looking for months if not years and never found one!

Down to:
1998 Sweden Celica
2002 Kenya Impreza

2002 Kenya Impreza:

http://web.archive.org/web/20021024113012/swrt.com/cpimages/98653.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021219230126/swrt.com/cpimages/98681.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021004232741/swrt.com/cpimages/98841.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021203025755/swrt.com/cpimages/98856.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021005073008/swrt.com/cpimages/98916.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021004050247/swrt.com/cpimages/98946.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20021201123315/swrt.com/cpimages/98781.jpg

[pettersolberg29]

Petter wore a white helmet for most of the events in 2002 (except Finland), so I think we've got that Kenya one. I'll follow it up - thanks again.

Only 1998 Sweden Celica GT4 left. Very hard to find...

[Xsara Fan]

Petter wore a white helmet for most of the events in 2002 (except Finland), so I think we've got that Kenya one. I'll follow it up - thanks again.

Only 1998 Sweden Celica GT4 left. Very hard to find...

Take a look at the new links from Safari 2002 (upper post) ;)

[karo]

great subject this...........

I believe I have seen a crash of Peter in a Toyota during the RAC a few years ago on one of my (90) tapes/DVD's. Is somebody albe to locate this on youtube?

I am also seaching for picturs of Peter driving the Ford Focus in that white livery with the Ford logo on the sie???

Take a look at my channel for some nice Peter onboard.
http://www.youtube.com/user/karokaro1974#play/uploads

[pettersolberg29]

Karo - got a picture of Petter in a Toyota from GB if that's of any use. If anyone could find it on Youtube it would be great.

I've also got a large selection of photos of Petter in the Ford. As I have them saved on my PC, if you PM your e-mail address with any specific requests I'll email the pictures as soon as possible.

[pettersolberg29]

Just thought I'd bump this a bit before the proper season gets underway.

Still looking for a photo of Petter's Celica from Sweden 1998. Also, some Norwegian members may have information/photos/results from Petter's earlier career, such as the crash at Hedemarken 1996, and the 1998 Norwegian Championship.

Any info appreciated!

[Xsara Fan]

Just thought I'd bump this a bit before the proper season gets underway.

Still looking for a photo of Petter's Celica from Sweden 1998. Also, some Norwegian members may have information/photos/results from Petter's earlier career, such as the crash at Hedemarken 1996, and the 1998 Norwegian Championship.

Any info appreciated!

I am not a Norwegian but I can give you on-board video from Hedemarken 1996:

http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/sport/spill/verdi/38110

[Krigen]

1999 Sweden Escort
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/xsarafan/Solberg-Sweden-1999.jpg

Remains me how little snow it actually was in Sweden those years!! So much about the climate change!!!!

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks Xsara Fan - bizarrely I already found that link but it couldn't play for me. That one worked though so thanks.

[pettersolberg29]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Qy5MYNNIo

Any reason this video is tagged with Petter Solberg? From Rally Larvik 1999 - I've seen records of him taking part but I may have read the Norwegian sites wrong. If he is on this video - at what time?

Thanks.

[JEM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Qy5MYNNIo

Any reason this video is tagged with Petter Solberg? From Rally Larvik 1999 - I've seen records of him taking part but I may have read the Norwegian sites wrong. If he is on this video - at what time?

Thanks.

Petter entered Rally Larvik in 1999 in a Focus WRC. He went of road on the firts stage and destroyd both wheels on the right side of the car and retired.
I have seen a video from this accident some where but can't remember where.
Correct me if i'm wrong any one, but pretty sure this is correct. :s mokin:

[Iskald]

Petter entered Rally Larvik in 1999 in a Focus WRC. He went of road on the firts stage and destroyd both wheels on the right side of the car and retired.
I have seen a video from this accident some where but can't remember where.
Correct me if i'm wrong any one, but pretty sure this is correct. :s mokin:

Petter went off on the fourth stage in this very fast tarmac rally, that also was a round in the Danish Championship that year. The incident was filmed both from outside and inboard and is featured in the DVD "The road to WRC" (incidentally produced by yours truly).

[SubaruNorway]

It's on this VHS but i can't seem to find the DVD version. I'm not sure if they send out of country though.
http://www.pushvideo.no/109-veien-til-vm-med-petter-solberg-vhs.html

[pettersolberg29]

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn158/pettersolberg29/2009Baja300Powerdays.jpg

Very recently, but any idea who this Fabia belongs to? Used by Petter in Baja 300 last year.

[Barreis]

Wevers motorsport (they have lots of WRC cars)..

[pettersolberg29]

I had guessed that from the huge window sticker saying 'Wevers Motorsport' but I had never heard of it before so assumed it was just a sponsor! :D

Did Petter hired it for this single event?

[Barreis]

First time I read that he drove fabia WRC..

[Josti]

I had guessed that from the huge window sticker saying 'Wevers Motorsport' but I had never heard of it before so assumed it was just a sponsor! :D

Did Petter hired it for this single event?

'Wevers Sport' is the team of rallydriver Erik Wevers. He drives a Focus WRC himself.

Probably a single-event deal yes, I know there's one going to compete in the Dutch championship again this year, could well be this one.

[Barreis]

They had two fabias WRC and one is sold..

[pettersolberg29]

Thanks for the info.

[st185cs]

Here is a photo of Petter sitting in a Toyota Celica ST185 Turbo 4WD at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2006.

Petter was driving a Prodrive Subaru that year and during the event came over, jumped in the Celica saying "I know this car"! I now own the car and I believe it might be one of the two Shell sponsored Celicas posted on this thread with Petter and Henning.

I'm very interested to find out more about Henning and Petter when they were running the two 185 Celicas - which I think was in 1997 - whether videos, pictures, results - anything at all. As such, I'm watching this thread closely and with interest.

The car was built for Sainz to do the Acropolis in 1992, it went to TAAB in Sweden in March 1993 and at some point I believe it was sold to Henning. It might have also been the Celica which Thomas Radstrom took to victory on the Swedish Rally in 1994.

Sorry - not meaning to hijack this thread, just add to it a little if I can.

[pettersolberg29]

Not hijacking at all - I'm more than interested too.

[Iskald]

Here is a photo of Petter sitting in a Toyota Celica ST185 Turbo 4WD at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2006.

Petter was driving a Prodrive Subaru that year and during the event came over, jumped in the Celica saying "I know this car"! I now own the car and I believe it might be one of the two Shell sponsored Celicas posted on this thread with Petter and Henning.

I'm very interested to find out more about Henning and Petter when they were running the two 185 Celicas - which I think was in 1997 - whether videos, pictures, results - anything at all. As such, I'm watching this thread closely and with interest.

The car was built for Sainz to do the Acropolis in 1992, it went to TAAB in Sweden in March 1993 and at some point I believe it was sold to Henning. It might have also been the Celica which Thomas Radstrom took to victory on the Swedish Rally in 1994.

Sorry - not meaning to hijack this thread, just add to it a little if I can.

Henning started with a Celica ST165 in 1996, but changed to a ST185 during the season. Petter was doing rallycross and hillclimb in his Volvo 240, and won both championships. For the last norwegian championship rally of 96, Rally Hedemarken, Petter borrowed the ST165 and made his proper rally debut. On stage four he went off the road, rolled several times and damaged the car extensively.

It may be that your car is Hennings ST185 in which he completed the 96 season and continued to rally in 1997. Henning and Petter originally had an agreement not to compete in the same class against each other, but it was Henning who initiated the buying of one more ST185 and made most sponsorship deals to run a team with Petter in 1997, both driving ST185s.
Henning finished 2nd in the 97 championship, behind Birger Gundersen driving a Ford Escort Cosworth to his third consecutive norwegian championship title.
Petter had a more up-and-down season, but won the Østfold Rally and finished 5th in the championship.

Your car could be either Petter or Hennings from that season. I know too little of the two cars original history to confirm if your car was the car Rådstrøm won the 94 Swedish with. In total I think it was five Celica ST185s running with different drivers in norwegian rallying from 1996 to 2000. I codrove Stian Engh in one of these cars in the 2000 season, and if my memory is correct this was one of the Solberg cars. But then again, I`m an old geezer and my memory often fails me ;-)

[st185cs]

Henning started with a Celica ST165 in 1996, but changed to a ST185 during the season. Petter was doing rallycross and hillclimb in his Volvo 240, and won both championships. For the last norwegian championship rally of 96, Rally Hedemarken, Petter borrowed the ST165 and made his proper rally debut. On stage four he went off the road, rolled several times and damaged the car extensively.

It may be that your car is Hennings ST185 in which he completed the 96 season and continued to rally in 1997. Henning and Petter originally had an agreement not to compete in the same class against each other, but it was Henning who initiated the buying of one more ST185 and made most sponsorship deals to run a team with Petter in 1997, both driving ST185s.
Henning finished 2nd in the 97 championship, behind Birger Gundersen driving a Ford Escort Cosworth to his third consecutive norwegian championship title.
Petter had a more up-and-down season, but won the Østfold Rally and finished 5th in the championship.

Your car could be either Petter or Hennings from that season. I know too little of the two cars original history to confirm if your car was the car Rådstrøm won the 94 Swedish with. In total I think it was five Celica ST185s running with different drivers in norwegian rallying from 1996 to 2000. I codrove Stian Engh in one of these cars in the 2000 season, and if my memory is correct this was one of the Solberg cars. But then again, I`m an old geezer and my memory often fails me ;-)

Thank you Iskald (Henning ?) - This is really fascinating and it looks like you also had some good results in the st185 - keeping the odd WRC Corolla at bay!

I bought the car in Latvia, from a guy called Martins Balodis. He said that he bought it in Norway and it was previously owned by Henning Solberg but I have nothing to substantiate this (other than Petter saying "I know this car"). Balodis used it from 2001. It still has its Matter "TC 5**" plate attached to the chassis etc and although I have had TTE in Cologne confirm its works history until March 1993, what happened to it in Sweden and Norway remains a mystery yet to be unravelled.

I did speak with Petter's Engineer in Catalunya last year who remembers the two st185s - he thought that one was gravel spec and the other tarmac (well, originally at least). Mine being a 1992 Acropolis car certainly is gravel spec. I have tried to email Henning but without success - I guess he is often more than a little busy...

I'm sure you aren't such an old geezer after all :0) but if you really are (!!) and can't remember much else, are you able to suggest any leads I can follow up on please to see how it possibly did feature in Petter's and/or Hennings early rally days in a Toyota? As for pictures or videos, either could reveal a lot.

Thanks again - Mark

[Viking]

Well, this car http://www.team-itweb.no/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=45&Itemid=18 is Hennings old car, but this car was in Norway at least as late as the 2006 season, not sure where it is now...

Petter`s car was refered to as bought from Radstrom but I think both cars came from Sweden...

[Iskald]

Thank you Iskald (Henning ?) - This is really fascinating and it looks like you also had some good results in the st185 - keeping the odd WRC Corolla at bay!

I bought the car in Latvia, from a guy called Martins Balodis. He said that he bought it in Norway and it was previously owned by Henning Solberg but I have nothing to substantiate this (other than Petter saying "I know this car"). Balodis used it from 2001. It still has its Matter "TC 5**" plate attached to the chassis etc and although I have had TTE in Cologne confirm its works history until March 1993, what happened to it in Sweden and Norway remains a mystery yet to be unravelled.

I did speak with Petter's Engineer in Catalunya last year who remembers the two st185s - he thought that one was gravel spec and the other tarmac (well, originally at least). Mine being a 1992 Acropolis car certainly is gravel spec. I have tried to email Henning but without success - I guess he is often more than a little busy...

I'm sure you aren't such an old geezer after all :0) but if you really are (!!) and can't remember much else, are you able to suggest any leads I can follow up on please to see how it possibly did feature in Petter's and/or Hennings early rally days in a Toyota? As for pictures or videos, either could reveal a lot.

Thanks again - Mark

This is funny. The car you own is the same car Stian Engh and I drove in the norwegian championship 2000. Stian sold the car to Martin Balodis at the end of 2000. As you say it is originally the Carlos Sainz 1992 Acropolis car. I don`t know more exact about the WRC history of the car, but Stian tells me that the car has a peculiar history that nearly all drivers who have driven the car has also rolled with it. It was driven by Henning Solberg in the norwegian championship 1996 (btw. he rolled it extensively in Rally Trondelag!). Then in 1997 Henning bought another ST185, and he drove the "new" car that season, while Petter got your car. So your car has actually been owned and driven by Petter Solberg, and it is the car that he used when he took his first norwegian championship victory in Ostfold Rally 1997. For 1998 Henning and Petter invested in Celica ST205s, and your ST185 was sold to Roar Vannebo. Vannebo used the car both for rallying and hillclimbs in 98 and 99 (and rolled twice with it!). Stian Engh bought the car from Roar Vannebo in october 99, and with me as his codriver we debuted in the Rally Solor in the beginning of january 2000. We had some good drives in the car, 4th overall in Rally Elverum and 3rd overall in Rally Hedmarken, the last championship round of that season. We would also have finished in 2nd overall in the Rally Larvik tarmac event if it wasn`t for a puncture on the last stage. Stian Engh also used the car for hillclimbs and became norwegian champion in the Group A 4WD class in 2000.
We used the car for the whole championship season, but Stian rented a Mitsubishi Evo 6,5 for the Rally Finland WRC event in august that year. With the legeandary Mikael Sundström as our team boss (thats a story in itself!), we finished Rally Finland in 32nd overall and 12th in Group N. In october 2000 Stian bought the Mitsubishi from Finland and sold the Celica ST185 to Balodis in Latvia.

[Timole]

Balodis also had a heavy crash with that car in one of the Estonian winter rallies, i guess it was in 2004 if i remember correctly.

[st185cs]

Well, this car http://www.team-itweb.no/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=45&Itemid=18 is Hennings old car, but this car was in Norway at least as late as the 2006 season, not sure where it is now...

Petter`s car was refered to as bought from Radstrom but I think both cars came from Sweden...

Thanks Viking for the info and the pictures. I saw this one for sale some time ago and did have some doubts with what I was told when I saw the reference to the Solbergs having owned it.

The pics suggest a tarmac spec based on the lightweight rear subframe. The dash layout and the angle cut clutch pedal also suggest it had been a Sainz car at some stage.

I have also seen the reference to Petter's car having come from Radstrom. Next thing is for me to try and find out whether Radstom's 1994 Swedish winning ST185 is the same car... and what else it did in Sweden and who were its drivers.

[st185cs]

This is funny. The car you own is the same car Stian Engh and I drove in the norwegian championship 2000. Stian sold the car to Martin Balodis at the end of 2000. As you say it is originally the Carlos Sainz 1992 Acropolis car. I don`t know more exact about the WRC history of the car, but Stian tells me that the car has a peculiar history that nearly all drivers who have driven the car has also rolled with it. It was driven by Henning Solberg in the norwegian championship 1996 (btw. he rolled it extensively in Rally Trondelag!). Then in 1997 Henning bought another ST185, and he drove the "new" car that season, while Petter got your car. So your car has actually been owned and driven by Petter Solberg, and it is the car that he used when he took his first norwegian championship victory in Ostfold Rally 1997. For 1998 Henning and Petter invested in Celica ST205s, and your ST185 was sold to Roar Vannebo. Vannebo used the car both for rallying and hillclimbs in 98 and 99 (and rolled twice with it!). Stian Engh bought the car from Roar Vannebo in october 99, and with me as his codriver we debuted in the Rally Solor in the beginning of january 2000. We had some good drives in the car, 4th overall in Rally Elverum and 3rd overall in Rally Hedmarken, the last championship round of that season. We would also have finished in 2nd overall in the Rally Larvik tarmac event if it wasn`t for a puncture on the last stage. Stian Engh also used the car for hillclimbs and became norwegian champion in the Group A 4WD class in 2000.
We used the car for the whole championship season, but Stian rented a Mitsubishi Evo 6,5 for the Rally Finland WRC event in august that year. With the legeandary Mikael Sundström as our team boss (thats a story in itself!), we finished Rally Finland in 32nd overall and 12th in Group N. In october 2000 Stian bought the Mitsubishi from Finland and sold the Celica ST185 to Balodis in Latvia.

Iskald - FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for unlocking so much of the mystery.

The "Rock & Roll" career this car seems to have started with Sainz rolling it down a Greek ravine when he was running 2nd (I think) on day 2 of the 1992 Acropolis. There is a picture of the car on its roof in Reinhard Klein's "Rally Cars" book.

Then, as for your information, gees - I guess I should now be worried as I have not rolled it myself (yet!) although I did come close when I went into a ditch on the Eifel Rallye the other year and nearly sent it end over end - I think there is some fan footage on the web somewhere and I have some in-car for my own entertainment. As for it's "rolling" history in Sweden - another chapter to be discovered...

I have the car in major rebuild at the moment and my target is to be ready for WRC Catalunya where I will hopefully be running with Reinhard Klein's Slowly Sideways organisation - if this happens it would be great if Petter, Henning and Carlos (and any other crews) were to come along for a photo shoot!

I will go and do a search for some photos on the web to see what I can find of your and other Norwegian drivers/co-drivers exploits in this amazing car.

[Micke_VOC]

Petter have a Toyota Celica in Torsby i think, and they are restore it to a new car =) The "competition mechanical school" its working with it.

http://nwt.se/torsby/article663126.ece the car in background i think is petter car.

[JFL]

Petter have a Toyota Celica in Torsby i think, and they are restore it to a new car =) The "competition mechanical school" its working with it.

http://nwt.se/torsby/article663126.ece the car in background i think is petter car.

http://www.pettersolberg.com/html/2010/03/21/my-old-car/#comments

[JFL]

Some old video's from Norwegian television..
First up is the final round from the Norwegian rallycross championship in 1996
http://tv.websport247.com/?Show=Video&ID=47
then a video from Rally Larvik(NC) and a showrace at Momarken against his brother and Martin Schanche
http://tv.websport247.com/?Show=Video&ID=46

[hsmed]

I know this is an old thread, but I would like to contribute with a very old picture of Petter Solberg:

http://www.danskerbiler.dk/Solberg.jpg

The picture is of a norwegian rallyteam and it is taken from their 1991 promotion material, which I picked up when they participated in a rally in Denmark.

The driver is named Runar Pedersen and I must admit, I do not know anything about him except that at that time he was a member of the Norwegian Junior Rally Team. But the codriver is Henning Solberg and the guy standing number two from the right in front of the service van is a very young Petter Solberg.

[A.F.F.]

Oh my god....

.... those haircuts !!!!

[VFTS]

Runar Pedersen was one of the best drivers i Norway. He had a young Henning Solberg in his codriver-seat. After some years they switched and Runar was co-driving for Henning for several years.
Petter was a young mechanic before he started with bilcross and rallycross.

[Spud]

I know this is an old thread, but I would like to contribute with a very old picture of Petter Solberg:

http://www.danskerbiler.dk/Solberg.jpg

The picture is of a norwegian rallyteam and it is taken from their 1991 promotion material, which I picked up when they participated in a rally in Denmark.

The driver is named Runar Pedersen and I must admit, I do not know anything about him except that at that time he was a member of the Norwegian Junior Rally Team. But the codriver is Henning Solberg and the guy standing number two from the right in front of the service van is a very young Petter Solberg.

Wow!!! That was certainly a long time ago!!! Thanks for the pic hsmed!!!

[pettersolberg29]

Cheers hsmed