Sublime strategy for second keeps Solberg first
News release
21.06.15
Sublime strategy for second keeps Solberg first
Petter Solberg celebrated an increased FIA World Rallycross Championship lead with second place at today’s World RX of Germany. The defending champion drove a brilliant, tactical weekend to take his third runners-up spot of the season and his fifth consecutive podium, ensuring he and his super-successful PSRX team head north with a 35-point lead at the top of the table.
Solberg said: “The goal for the weekend was to survive with a decent result and I’ve done that; I’m pleased with second and extending the FIA World RX Championship lead.
“This weekend means my team and I have made five podium places in five attempts and we have increased the lead to 35 points over our closest challenger, Johan Kristoffersson.
“The Estering circuit in Germany is the most difficult track throughout the FIA World Rallycross Championship. The first 150 meters is a gentle right curve up towards a 120-degree right-hander. To be honest, that reminds me more of a lottery than a car race!
“The worst thing one can do on this track, is believe you can win everything. You need to drive smart to gain a good result here.
“Before the race we made a plan to defend ourselves through this World RX round. We were leading the championship by 29 points before the race. This is the place to lose such a lead if you drive with big risk.
“We were a bit unlucky with unfavorable starting positions in all four preliminary heats, but we followed the plan and ran wisely and risk-free through the first three races. In the fourth heat the opportunity presented itself after a wise choice of strategy for the joker lap. That heat victory took us from fifth to second place in the intermediate – just one point behind the top prize.
“In the semi-final we started from pole position but came out a little bit slow from the start and had to rely on the same strategy to win there as well.
In the final, Davy Jeanney was fastest off the line. Unfortunately, I took the joker one lap too early and ended up behind Kristoffersson for the next three laps. When the chance of victory had gone, we turned things around and focused on defending our second place.
“This is probably my best tactical race ever. I am proud that the entire team and I kept calm and followed the plan as implemented. Fourteen podium places from the last 17 World RX races in the past two seasons is quite unique, in my opinion.
“Davy Jeanney impressed me over the weekend; it seemed for a while like he was playing with us. It was a well-deserved win. Davy has worked hard for this success, and I’m happy for him that it paid off.
“The next World RX race is at my team’s home in Höljes, Sweden. That will also be a difficult race with a record number of cars on the start grid. My goal is to continue to drive tactically there and then time will tell if I can grab a good result from there too.”
The three-word weekend:
Championship lead growing.
The (very) small number:
0 That’s how many times Petter hasn’t finished on the World RX podium this year
Final result:
1 Davy Jeaney 3m45.662s
2 Petter Solberg 3m50.663s
3 Timmy Hansen 3m51.200s
4 Johan Kristoffersson 3m51.477s
5 Andreas Bakkerud 3m55.850s
6 Tord Linnerud 5m56.893s
Drivers’ championship positions:
1 Petter Solberg 138pts
2 Johan Kristoffersson 103pts
3 Andreas Bakkerud 90pts
4 Timmy Hansen 79pts
5 Davy Jeanney 77pts
6 Reinis Nitiss 76pts
Teams’ championship positions:
1 Ford Olsbergs MSE 167pts
2 SDRX 158pts
3 Peugeot-Hansen 156pts
Next time out World RX of Sweden July 04/05
It’s time to get the party started and the job finished. It’s Höljes and almost home for the PSRX team. Petter finished third at his second home race last year – and felt it was definitely the one that got away. This time he’s going for gold and really going to give the 35,000 fans something to cheer about. Don’t forget, when it comes to Sweden… The winner takes it all.
Almost finally, an answer:
994 kilometres (distance from Buxtehude to Torsby).
Finally, a question:
How many albums and singles have ABBA sold worldwide? And… how many does Petter have?
Want to know more about your FIA World Rallycross Champion?
Per-Espen Lochen PR/Media Manager
+46 76 110 7 110
+47 952 43 245
pettersolberg.com
@Petter_Solberg
www.facebook.com/PetterSolbergWRC
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Sandra Evans
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