Motorsports, Performance and Customization

Feature: Petter Solberg: world famous – but not in Canada

June 29, 2004

Petter Solberg talks to journalists at Atlantic Motorsport Park.

Story and photos by Grant Yoxon

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Walking through an airport in many other parts of the world, Petter Solberg would be mobbed. But walking through any airport in Canada, the current World Rally Championship (WRC) driving champion is just another face in the crowd.

If you saw Formula One champion Michael Schumacher at the local mall, would you recognize him? Probably. Or Champ Car World Series champion, Paul Tracy? Almost certainly.

Many NASCAR drivers are also familiar faces to Canadian motorsport fans, thanks to the popularity of the series in North America and the extensive TV coverage NASCAR receives.

But WRC, the top ranked rally series in the world, is largely unknown in Canada, as are its drivers.

Such is not the case in Europe where WRC is held in higher regard than F1. WRC is one of the most demanding and challenging motorsports in the world. The cars closely resemble production models built by Subaru, Peugeot, Mitsubishi, Citroen and Ford. The races are run in stages on closed public roads over several days. Speeds often exceed 200 kilometres per hour. Drivers must master every conceivable road surface including snow and ice, sand and gravel, as well as pavement. Their skill is highly regarded.

Talking to journalists

Taking a break during hot laps for journalists

Putting the 2005 Legacy 2.5 GT through its paces

Click images to enlarge

In Norway, Mr. Solberg’s home, he is a national hero, having progressed from Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion in 1995 to the WRC championship in 2003 driving for the Subaru World Rally Team.

The 29-year old Mr. Solberg seemed destined to drive a rally car. His father prepared race-cars. His mother is a former Norwegian rally champion. He began driving cars on his parent’s farm near Oslo when he was eight. He won his first rally race in 1992, the year he received his driver’s licence. His brother Henning also competes in WRC, driving for Peugeot.

Asked if driving a rally car is a learned or inherited skill, Mr. Solberg said, “I think it is in the blood.”

In Halifax last month for Subaru Canada’s national dealer’s meeting, Mr. Solberg took time out of his busy schedule – he travels 270 days a year – to demonstrate his driving skill and the handling ability of Subaru’s new 2.5 litre turbo-charged Legacy GT.

Subaru has been involved in WRC since 1990 and has won six championship titles including the manufacturer’s title in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Other driver’s championships were won for Subaru by Colin McRae in 1995 and Richard Burns in 2001.

Rally driving may be in his blood, but it takes more than talent to win a WRC championship. Mr. Solberg noted that experience is important. “It takes time to master all the different surfaces. Rally drivers are usually much older than road course drivers.”

He works out three hours a day to maintain top physical and mental fitness. When he drives, his eyes reveal a heightened level of unblinking concentration. In his hands the Legacy performs well beyond what would be required by any driver in daily driving. But sitting next to Mr. Solberg on a hot lap around Atlantic Motorsport Park’s road course, you get the impression that he could make any car perform beyond expectations.

Thanks to television, WRC is gaining in popularity. In Canada, WRC can be viewed on the Speed Channel on Sundays following each race. The next race, the Rally of Argentina takes place July 16-18. Coverage begins Sunday night, July 18, at 9:30 p.m.

Petter Solberg is currently in 2nd position in the driver’s standings, following the Rally of Turkey held this past weekend, and well-positioned for another run at the championship.

To learn more about WRC, visit www.wrc.com on the Web. Information about the Subaru World Rally Team can be found at www.swrt.com. And Mr. Solberg’s own website is located at www.pettersolberg.com.