409industries
04-09-2008, 03:41 PM
Cool stuff pulled from the SWRT website.
Petter Solberg profile
Date of birth: 18 November 1974
Nationality: Norwegian
Lives: Monaco
Marital status: Married to Pernilla, one son Oliver
First rally: 1996
WRC debut: 1998 Sweden
Hobbies: Quad-biking, radio-controlled cars, fishing, riding snow-mobiles and driving
on frozen lakes, all with Oliver
“I want to win as many points as possible in the first part of this year with the current car. We will start with a measured approach to the season, but of course we will be pushing. Before the new car arrives it would be good to win a rally, but for sure points are the priority.” Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg is one of the foremost rally drivers in the world. The effervescent and aptly nicknamed Hollywood is as gregarious as he is dedicated and focussed. Intensely competitive, his drive and determination took him to World Championship honours in 2003, just three seasons after joining the Subaru World Rally Team.
His passion for cars and speed started when he was still too young to enter rallies, and he became Norwegian radio-controlled Champion at the tender age of 13. Petter’s rally-driving career commenced on the fields of his parents' farm near Oslo, where he developed his flamboyant but precise car control from the age of just eight. With his parents both keen on rallycross, it was no surprise that his debut in the Norwegian Autocross Championship came as soon as he was old enough, aged just 17.
One of the most popular drivers in the WRC, he is a superstar in his native Norway. It is hard to pick a rally stage that is not lined with his loyal supporters, adorned in Norwegian flags, who travel the length and breadth of the globe to support their hero.
After narrowly missing out on the title in 2004 and 2005, and scoring only two podiums in 2007 after what has been a series of difficult years, Petter is more focussed than ever on taking to the top step of the podium. Hungry to once again taste the champagne of success, more victories are sure to be on the way for the affable Norwegian.
Career history
2007: Fifth place, World Rally Championship
2006: Sixth place, World Rally Championship
2005: Second place, World Rally Championship
2004: Solberg claimed five rally victories, including his third consecutive win on Rally GB,
to finish second in the World Rally Championship
2003: A spectacular win on Rally GB, the final round of the season, delivered Solberg’s
first World Rally Championship title
2002: Second place, World Rally Championship
2001: Solberg scored the highest WRC finish of his career, with second in Greece
2000: Signed by the Subaru World Rally Team in August
1999: Solberg signed his first works WRC deal with the Ford World Rally Team, and
debuted in an Escort in Sweden. He sat alongside Phil Mills for the first time.
Solberg replaced Thomas Rådström on the Safari Rally, Rally Portugal and Rally GB.
1998: Solberg’s first major championship victory came in the Group A Norwegian Rally
Championship. He also made his WRC debut, finishing 14th on Rally Sweden.
1997: Norwegian hillclimbing champion
1996: Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240. In September,
Solberg made his rally debut aboard a Toyota Celica GT4
1995: Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240
1992: Debuted in the Norwegian Autocross Championship
Petter Solberg profile
Date of birth: 18 November 1974
Nationality: Norwegian
Lives: Monaco
Marital status: Married to Pernilla, one son Oliver
First rally: 1996
WRC debut: 1998 Sweden
Hobbies: Quad-biking, radio-controlled cars, fishing, riding snow-mobiles and driving
on frozen lakes, all with Oliver
“I want to win as many points as possible in the first part of this year with the current car. We will start with a measured approach to the season, but of course we will be pushing. Before the new car arrives it would be good to win a rally, but for sure points are the priority.” Petter Solberg
Petter Solberg is one of the foremost rally drivers in the world. The effervescent and aptly nicknamed Hollywood is as gregarious as he is dedicated and focussed. Intensely competitive, his drive and determination took him to World Championship honours in 2003, just three seasons after joining the Subaru World Rally Team.
His passion for cars and speed started when he was still too young to enter rallies, and he became Norwegian radio-controlled Champion at the tender age of 13. Petter’s rally-driving career commenced on the fields of his parents' farm near Oslo, where he developed his flamboyant but precise car control from the age of just eight. With his parents both keen on rallycross, it was no surprise that his debut in the Norwegian Autocross Championship came as soon as he was old enough, aged just 17.
One of the most popular drivers in the WRC, he is a superstar in his native Norway. It is hard to pick a rally stage that is not lined with his loyal supporters, adorned in Norwegian flags, who travel the length and breadth of the globe to support their hero.
After narrowly missing out on the title in 2004 and 2005, and scoring only two podiums in 2007 after what has been a series of difficult years, Petter is more focussed than ever on taking to the top step of the podium. Hungry to once again taste the champagne of success, more victories are sure to be on the way for the affable Norwegian.
Career history
2007: Fifth place, World Rally Championship
2006: Sixth place, World Rally Championship
2005: Second place, World Rally Championship
2004: Solberg claimed five rally victories, including his third consecutive win on Rally GB,
to finish second in the World Rally Championship
2003: A spectacular win on Rally GB, the final round of the season, delivered Solberg’s
first World Rally Championship title
2002: Second place, World Rally Championship
2001: Solberg scored the highest WRC finish of his career, with second in Greece
2000: Signed by the Subaru World Rally Team in August
1999: Solberg signed his first works WRC deal with the Ford World Rally Team, and
debuted in an Escort in Sweden. He sat alongside Phil Mills for the first time.
Solberg replaced Thomas Rådström on the Safari Rally, Rally Portugal and Rally GB.
1998: Solberg’s first major championship victory came in the Group A Norwegian Rally
Championship. He also made his WRC debut, finishing 14th on Rally Sweden.
1997: Norwegian hillclimbing champion
1996: Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240. In September,
Solberg made his rally debut aboard a Toyota Celica GT4
1995: Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240
1992: Debuted in the Norwegian Autocross Championship