Petter Solberg WRT

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Originally Posted by Viking

So who is this then? And when have you done "something"?

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No particular driver, there is too many to pick someone out, what do you mean when have i done "something" ?

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Originally Posted by Tomi

No particular driver, there is too many to pick someone out, what do you mean when have i done "something" ?

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Not you Tomi :) , only wondering when you mean a driver has achieved something, as in opposite of nothing.

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Originally Posted by Viking

Not you Tomi :) , only wondering when you mean a driver has achieved something, as in opposite of nothing.

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I think all serious young drivers aim is a works car in WRC, after they get that they have achived their first goal, and done something, after that its up to them self how far they will go.

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Originally Posted by serial jeff

I think the presence of ex-champions in the WRC is not a problem. Newcomers should earn their way into the WRC by proven speed. Petter, Seb, Burns, etc all made their way into the WRC by dominating local/smaller championships.

Maybe it's the attitude of giving WRC cars to young unproven drivers that's given us Wilson, Rautenbach and Novikov. I wouldn't mind if it was a rule that a driver can compete in the WRC only if he has won another FIA sanctioned rally championship, be it JWRC, PWRC, SWRC, IRC, or any remotely competitive national championship.

But I think having more competing cars is the most important step. Hopefully next year with the new specification there will be more manufacturers, more cars, and more competition.

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True, P. Solberg became Norwegian champion in hillclimbing and rallycross in 1995 & 1996 and Norwegian rally champion in 1998. He signed with Malcolm Wilson at Ford the same year. He got his chance at Ford after sending Malcolm a promo-tape and begging. He was signed after coming to the UK, testing their cars and proving his speed.

That's the way is should be, young guys proving their speed and not the size of their parents bank account.

I hope we see many manufacturers and many teams join in with the new regulations. I think it's the only way we'll see the WRC gain interest again.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

True, P. Solberg became Norwegian champion in hillclimbing and rallycross in 1995 & 1996 and Norwegian rally champion in 1998. He signed with Malcolm Wilson at Ford the same year. He got his chance at Ford after sending Malcolm a promo-tape and begging. He was signed after coming to the UK, testing their cars and proving his speed.

That's the way is should be, young guys proving their speed and not the size of their parents bank account.

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Is this based on known facts or are you assuming he didn't bring any money to M-Sport?

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Is this based on known facts or are you assuming he didn't bring any money to M-Sport?

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According to his own biography "110 percent" he drove 18 months for Ford without a contract. When he asked for one he didn't get any definite answers. Malcolm also had what Petter described as a very authoritative style of leadership and mistakes behind the steering wheel often resulted in verbal abuse from Malcolm. Imagine what Latvala has heard over the years...
The uncertainty at Ford and an increasingly difficult working environment took a heavy toll on Petter, to the degree that he contacted Olav Nøkling, a psychologist specializing in helping athletes. With help Petter got better and his driving also improved after learning to deal with all the drama outside the stages. When an offer came from David Lapworth it was easy to jump over to Subaru.

I don't know the contents of the verbal agreement between Petter and Malcolm, but he was an official part of the Ford junior team and I assume he got paid for driving either from Ford, Fords sponsors or his own sponsors. It's very unlikely that he brought any money to Ford without a written contract.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

I don't know the contents of the verbal agreement between Petter and Malcolm, but he was an official part of the Ford junior team and I assume he got paid for driving either from Ford, Fords sponsors or his own sponsors. It's very unlikely that he brought any money to Ford without a written contract.

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At first Petter did not get paid by Ford but he got the car for free and allowed to have his own sponsors on the car to pay his salary and expenses.

Petter need to joint the tactics s*** of the others to have a chance to win.

As long as FIA do not change the starting order system, he looses too much by winning day 1.

The FIA should make the championship leader start 1st place on the road on all 3 days.

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Originally Posted by Langdale Forest

The FIA should make the championship leader start 1st place on the road on all 3 days.

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no they shouldnt, they should do the direct opposite and re-introduce reversed start order ALL three days.