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Petter Solberg
Date of Birth : 18/11/74
Place of Birth : Askim, Norway
Lives : Spydeberg, Norway
Marital Status :Married to Pernilla, one son Oliver
Role : Driver
Co-Driver : Phil Mills
Hobbies : Cycling, squash and films
Website : www.pettersolberg.com
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HISTORY
First Rally : 1996
WRC Debut : 1998 Sweden
Career highlights :
2005 - 2nd Drivers' World Rally Championship
2004 - 2nd Drivers' World Rally Championship
2003 - World Rally Champion
2002 - 2nd Drivers' World Rally Championship
2002 - First WRC Win - Rally of Great Britain
2000 - Signed to Subaru World Rally Team
1998 - Group A Norwegian Rally Champion
1997 - Norwegian hillclimbing Champion
1996 - Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing Champion
1995 - Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing Champion
Until recently, charismatic Norwegian Petter Solberg was widely regarded as one of the WRC's ascendant stars and a champion in the making. All that changed in 2003 when a meteoric rise through the ranks culminated in him being crowned World Rally Champion considerably sooner than most would have thought possible.
'Hollywood' as he is known is one of the most effervescent and popular drivers in the world championship. A superstar in his native Norway, crowds of his most loyal supporters turn up at every WRC event to cheer on their hero. While Solberg s crowd-pleasing antics are a firm favourite with rally fans across the world, there s a burning determination for continued success at the highest level. He has a relentless work ethic and his sights set on breaking former team-mate and Finnish rally legend Tommi Mäkinen's record of four WRC titles.
A family affair
Petter started his rally-driving career on the fields of his parents' farm near Oslo when he was eight years old. His parents were both keen rallycross drivers, and, together with his older brother Henning, Petter inherited their enthusiasm for cars. As an 11-year-old Petter helped his parents build and maintain their autocross cars. Too young to compete himself, he raced radio-controlled cars and became Norwegian Champion at the age of 13.
Second race, first win
Solberg made his competitive driving debut on a round of the Norwegian Autocross Championship in late 1992 the day after he passed his driving test. His second race took place the following year and he won! He quickly progressed from autocross to rallycross and then to hillclimbing, using a Ford Escort Mk2 given to him by his brother.
From events to championships
In 1995, Petter acquired a Volvo 240, also from big brother Henning, and became Norwegian Champion in rallycross and hillclimbing, a feat he was to repeat in 1996. That season he won an unprecedented 19 of the 21 events he started. In September 1996, Petter made his rally debut. This time he was behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica GT4. The following season, he acquired a Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD formerly driven by leading Swedish rally driver Thomas Rådström. Petter used the car to clinch another hillclimb title. More significantly, he d made the step across to rallying and would end his first Norwegian Rally Championship campaign in fifth position.
World Championship debut
For 1998, Petter remained with a private Toyota, but this time it was a more contemporary Celica GT-Four. This car delivered Solberg s first major rally championship, when he lifted the silverware in his domestic series. This was the season where he made his World Rally Championship debut, finishing 14th on the Swedish Rally.
Call-up from Ford
By now Petter was getting noticed and in 1999 he signed to drive for the Ford World Rally Team, making his works debut in Sweden with an Escort WRC and Phil Mills as his new co-driver. Soon afterwards Petter s career received a surprise boost thanks to the misfortune of a teammate. When Thomas Rådström was injured prior to the Safari Rally, Petter flew out to Nairobi as a last-minute replacement for the Swede. Despite having no experience of the event, or the new Focus WRC he would be driving, he finished an excellent fifth overall in Kenya. With Radstrom still sidelined, Petter remained in the Focus for the Rally of Portugal, where he finished 11th before rounding off the year with ninth place on the Rally Great Britain.
Subaru switch and that crucial first win
Petter remained with Ford for the first half of the 2000 season, but in August switched to the Subaru World Rally Team. Despite some early setbacks he maintained a level-headed and positive approach. His efforts were rewarded in Greece with a superb, then, career-best second place on one of the World Rally Championship s toughest events. For 2002, Petter partnered Tommi Mäkinen at Subaru and during the season took podium positions five times. Petter s spectacular victory on the final round in Wales took him to second place in the championship, but more importantly it delivered that all-important first World Rally Championship win.
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