What will the Solberg Brothers do in 09 ?

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Originally Posted by RS

And do you know what PG thought of the Fabia?

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He was very happy with the handling of the car, but he wants more time in it if he shall compare with the sx4 fully

Yes maybe Xsara is an option, how does the Xsara and the 307 compare on gravel and asphalt ?

I thing that in terms of speed,with the same driver and tyres 307 is faster on both surfaces...

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Originally Posted by Psycho!

I thing that in terms of speed,with the same driver and tyres 307 is faster on both surfaces...

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at the time when they competed at top level, xsara was faster on all surfaces. The difference now is that the 307 probably is more developed and closer to top spec than available Xsaras

Remember that Xsara had the super Michelins,while 307 was struggling with Pirellis...

I really hope that Petter doesn't opt for an older car, no matter what you say (and I love the 307 so would be great to see them out again) I want Petter to get a top line car, so Focus or C4 is the choice. If I was Malcolm Wilson I would be wanting the strongest possible team to get the manufacturers title back, and I think Petter is a better bet than Jari-Matti, still for now at least.

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

I really hope that Petter doesn't opt for an older car, no matter what you say (and I love the 307 so would be great to see them out again) I want Petter to get a top line car, so Focus or C4 is the choice. If I was Malcolm Wilson I would be wanting the strongest possible team to get the manufacturers title back, and I think Petter is a better bet than Jari-Matti, still for now at least.

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Petter a better bet than Latvala? No way, Latvala will improve next year and won't make much silly mistakes as this year. Petter is over his top and had also too much mistakes in the last years. Don't forget Atkinson had a lot more podiums in 2008 than Petter.

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Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza

Petter a better bet than Latvala? No way, Latvala will improve next year and won't make much silly mistakes as this year. Petter is over his top and had also too much mistakes in the last years. Don't forget Atkinson had a lot more podiums in 2008 than Petter.

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Petter is proven. Latvala is a rough diamond. Latvala has the potential to be a much greater driver than Petter ever was, or a much crappier driver.

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Originally Posted by Wim_Impreza

Petter a better bet than Latvala? No way, Latvala will improve next year and won't make much silly mistakes as this year. Petter is over his top and had also too much mistakes in the last years. Don't forget Atkinson had a lot more podiums in 2008 than Petter.

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Wow the soul of one of the forum's Finns has re-incarnated in your head, Wim ??? :laugh:

If I was to bet on whether Petter or Jari-Matti finished any particular stage, I wouldn't bet my house on Jari-Matti..........

Ford would be crazy to let Latvala go, once he settles down a bit more he would be better placed than Mikko to challenge Seb on a apples for apples basis I feel. He has more outright speed than Mikko just now he is going through the "crash happy" stage like many of the greats went through.

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Originally Posted by J4MIE

If I was to bet on whether Petter or Jari-Matti finished any particular stage, I wouldn't bet my house on Jari-Matti..........

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I am not a fan of Petter.but for now he definitly better than Jari-Matti.

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Originally Posted by WRCfan

Ford would be crazy to let Latvala go, once he settles down a bit more he would be better placed than Mikko to challenge Seb on a apples for apples basis I feel. He has more outright speed than Mikko just now he is going through the "crash happy" stage like many of the greats went through.

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I agree, I didn't say they should let him go ;) I rate him highly as well, but att he crucial time when the future of the sport is uncertain, then points win prizes.

If Petter can bring some money (and I can't see him going without sponsorship, he's too commercially valuable) then it's effectively giving Latvala a free seat.

It sounds like Henning might warn Petter off a customer Focus, so if he does appear in a Ford I guess it will have to be the works team.

This is where the scoring rules in IRC are better, it would be quite an incentive for Malcolm to run Petter in a proper Focus if he could also score manufacturer points instead of all this M2 "Team" nonsense.

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Originally Posted by RS

It sounds like Henning might warn Petter off a customer Focus, so if he does appear in a Ford I guess it will have to be the works team.
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Could "smell" more and more Solberg brothers in Bozian whales for 2009 :bounce:

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Originally Posted by RS

It sounds like Henning might warn Petter off a customer Focus

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Really, can you post a link from where you did get this?

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Originally Posted by Tomi

Really, can you post a link from where you did get this?

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In the link that Sulland posted earlier.. He does not directly say that, but he sounds quite unhappy with how his year went: http://translate.google.no/translate...istory_state0=

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Originally Posted by RS

In the link that Sulland posted earlier.. He does not directly say that, but he sounds quite unhappy with how his year went: http://translate.google.no/translate...istory_state0=

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well with a load of imagination you can come to such conclusion from that story.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

well with a load of imagination you can come to such conclusion from that story.

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I don't think it takes a lot if you couple that with the fact he is looking at a 307 for an option and said he preferred even driving a 3 year old Fabia to the Focus. Are you a Ford fan too?

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Originally Posted by RS

I don't think it takes a lot if you couple that with the fact he is looking at a 307 for an option and said he preferred even driving a 3 year old Fabia to the Focus. Are you a Ford fan too?

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No, im not a fan of any car, drivers seldom bash any car they just have driven anyway, can well be that he is looking for cheaper options than Ford, if they maybe are not willing to sponsor him the same amount as before. The reasons can be many.

I think the MSport tactics is going far into the M2 teams. I think that together with the fact that the Focus seems to be hard to get to work for a lot of drivers, (including Henning) will be a factor both brothers take into account when making a choice for 09.

Tactics is starting to play a far to big of a role in WRC, that is also part of the reason I like IRC better. So far it seems fairer and squarer, but that might change when more money is on the line.....

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Originally Posted by Sulland

I think the MSport tactics is going far into the M2 teams. I think that together with the fact that the Focus seems to be hard to get to work for a lot of drivers, (including Henning) will be a factor both brothers take into account when making a choice for 09.

Tactics is starting to play a far to big of a role in WRC, that is also part of the reason I like IRC better. So far it seems fairer and squarer, but that might change when more money is on the line.....

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I think the stobart guys did very much as expected, nothing bad with gallis or duvals driving in my opinion. If henning cry's it for some other reasons.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

I think the stobart guys did very much as expected, nothing bad with gallis or duvals driving in my opinion. If henning cry's it for some other reasons.

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Don't blame Henning for the crying, most of it is from other sources and Bosse. But with inboards an so, some slips of tongue has come out.

Both Henning and Galli has been frustrated by the treatment from MW. This is some of the reason Expert has put their foot down. They want a contract that garanties the best possible machinery and not to be held back if doing well. They have an outspoken goal about winning RN

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Originally Posted by Gard

Don't blame Henning for the crying, most of it is from other sources and Bosse. But with inboards an so, some slips of tongue has come out.

Both Henning and Galli has been frustrated by the treatment from MW. This is some of the reason Expert has put their foot down. They want a contract that garanties the best possible machinery and not to be held back if doing well. They have an outspoken goal about winning RN

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Can you give some links, mainly the Bosse thing, and also where Galli criticise the team he just 1-2 weeks ago kind of praised.

News about the Solbergs the 2nd january ???? :confused:

How many car shows are the Solberg brothers booked to attend in 2009 ? Is that an alternative career option ?

realistic- In 1992? Subaru did the Safari Rally with Justy model cars. In the spirit of recession should the Solbergs do the 2009 pwrc with group n imprezas if they can find the backing and a place in the pwrc entry? Perhaps PS could do a few classic/ historic events in the Justy or build one up.

Dream- With Toyota still in F1, should PS/ HS form a Toyota Norway Team (TNT) PS and PGA as drivers with HS as (crash) tester and engineer. If the euros/ kronars? are around for a Scan s2000 Corolla/ Auris program. PS drove Celica last century.(toyota and subaru are they still planning on sharing a platform base ?)

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Originally Posted by Zeakiwi

PS drove Celica last century.

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Actually, what he did was crash Hennings Celica. :D

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Originally Posted by Gard

Both Henning and Galli has been frustrated by the treatment from MW. This is some of the reason Expert has put their foot down. They want a contract that garanties the best possible machinery and not to be held back if doing well. They have an outspoken goal about winning RN

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Some people in Expert have lost their touch to the reality.

Petter looses about 7 milj €, the salary + personal sponsor contracts, Subaru dont have to pay him nothing.

Sourse: Finansavisen

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Originally Posted by Tomi

Petter looses about 7 milj €, the salary + personal sponsor contracts, Subaru dont have to pay him nothing.

Sourse: Finansavisen

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That can put his 2009 season in doubt if it's true :s :s

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Originally Posted by Tomi

Petter looses about 7 milj €, the salary + personal sponsor contracts, Subaru dont have to pay him nothing.

Sourse: Finansavisen

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Apparently according to Norwegian media that was "yesterdays news" - today they report that he will be paid. I think its unfair for us here on the forum to speculate about details of contracts and salaries.
But I am sure a lot of negotiation and compromise has taken place before Petter was allowed to drive other makes.

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Originally Posted by MJW

Apparently according to Norwegian media that was "yesterdays news" - today they report that he will be paid. I think its unfair for us here on the forum to speculate about details of contracts and salaries.
But I am sure a lot of negotiation and compromise has taken place before Petter was allowed to drive other makes.

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Yes, VG says today that he will get some compensation from subaru.
The Finansavisen claimed that it was solberg him self saying that they did have a clausul in the contract, so it was no speculation.

Rather without driving than to loose that money.. Anyway they are destroying codrivers or themselves and still have to pay millions for that.. Strange!

Hi! Best bet from me is: Due to Petter's good relations(with Subaru,FHI) and reduced sallery, I guess we'll se him in a own team with a Solberg spec s14. Teammate H.Solberg?Maybe.?
I think H. is better of in whale then in the Stobart Focus! More testing, and all the parts and setting he needs, will do better then just to jump in a zero-tuned/adjusted Focus! But if M.W will give him the value for his money, with testing, correct parts(diffs,gearboxes .etc) I'll think we will see him in a Focus! Happy newyear everybody!

I want to still believe Henning in the whale ;)



Edit: and Petter Solberg again in S14 ??? So long to the dreams of victory :s :s

I guess Henning in a whale and PSRT running a Subaru. Maybe some rallycross also for both.
WRC 2009 becomes even more a rich kids rallying adventure with the likes of Rauntenbach now actually possibly denying a better talent of a car, even though both would "bring money". (There are very few "proper Focus and C4s and S14's in existence.)As Meeke said in the British press before Christmas WRC is now a really sick dog. It will be interesting to see how the year unfolds if the likes of Garde, PG, Duval, Meeke etc get on on IRC & how people will view both championships on next years New Years Eve.

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Originally Posted by MJW

WRC 2009 becomes even more a rich kids rallying adventure with the likes of Rauntenbach now actually possibly denying a better talent of a car, even though both would "bring money". (There are very few "proper Focus and C4s and S14's in existence.)As Meeke said in the British press before Christmas WRC is now a really sick dog. It will be interesting to see how the year unfolds if the likes of Garde, PG, Duval, Meeke etc get on on IRC & how people will view both championships on next years New Years Eve.

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I agree. I think it looks like a better choice for the Solberg's to do something else for 2009 at least, rather than become tag-alongs in a championship that is almost in the depths of despondency! If the WRC does get back on its feet in 2010, how likely would the Solbergs get their seat back with a top team, if they didn't compete next year?

Its still all up in the air and time is running out.

Happy New Year to Petter and Henning :bounce:

I hope today we will have definitely official news regarding 2009 program of Solbergs :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Tom206wrc

I hope today we will have definitely official news regarding 2009 program of Solbergs :rolleyes:

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Why today, Tom?