Why is Petter Solberg struggling to get a top drive in 2011?
Discussion
Since Subaru decided to pull out and there being no spare places, the second best WRC driver currently competing has been in limbo.
Is seems to be a similar situation to when McRae lost his drive due to there just not being enough top drives available after rule changes stopped Citroen running 3 cars?
I thought he would have slotted perfectly into a Prodrive MINI team drive.
IIRC Petter was helping fund his brother's WRC career, so why does Hemming not appear to struggle now, but Petter does? Is it down to personal sponsorships?
Does Petter's relationship with Subaru get in the way? Has he burnt any bridges in the past?
As a massive Petter fan (and I don't mean I'm a fat git), I'm struggling to understand why he is the position he is.
Edited to spell Petter right.....
Is seems to be a similar situation to when McRae lost his drive due to there just not being enough top drives available after rule changes stopped Citroen running 3 cars?
I thought he would have slotted perfectly into a Prodrive MINI team drive.
IIRC Petter was helping fund his brother's WRC career, so why does Hemming not appear to struggle now, but Petter does? Is it down to personal sponsorships?
Does Petter's relationship with Subaru get in the way? Has he burnt any bridges in the past?
As a massive Petter fan (and I don't mean I'm a fat git), I'm struggling to understand why he is the position he is.
Edited to spell Petter right.....
Edited by Emeye on Monday 29th November 21:17
EDLT said:
Petter needs a bigger budget because he is competing with the manufacturer teams. No idea why he didn't get Hirvonnen/Latvala's seat though, maybe he doesn't want to be stuck in an uncompetitive car?
He wont get a Ford seat beause when he came to the WRC he pissed off Malcom Wilson by signing a full time contract with Subaru after Ford gave him his big chance. Now Ford are struggling and IMO Malcom Wilson is too far stuck up his own arse to see what ana amazing talent Petter always will be and what an asset to the team! He is so much more popular than anyone else out there while Loeb is a massive turn off for the fans! Talked to a fair few people at Rally GB and they all wanted Petter to win and for him to get the top drive that he deserves!
May be the problem is that even his "huge fans" like me can never remember how to spell his name right! 
Whoops. I apologise.
But then I'm not too sure how to spell Micca Hurvonen, Sebastion Lowb, Kimi Riekonen, Sebastion Ogier etc etc.
May be I should become a Ken Block fan...... but I can't spell Jimcarna either.
Whoops. I apologise.But then I'm not too sure how to spell Micca Hurvonen, Sebastion Lowb, Kimi Riekonen, Sebastion Ogier etc etc.
May be I should become a Ken Block fan...... but I can't spell Jimcarna either.
Allyc85 said:
EDLT said:
Petter needs a bigger budget because he is competing with the manufacturer teams. No idea why he didn't get Hirvonnen/Latvala's seat though, maybe he doesn't want to be stuck in an uncompetitive car?
He wont get a Ford seat beause when he came to the WRC he pissed off Malcom Wilson by signing a full time contract with Subaru after Ford gave him his big chance. Now Ford are struggling and IMO Malcom Wilson is too far stuck up his own arse to see what ana amazing talent Petter always will be and what an asset to the team! He is so much more popular than anyone else out there while Loeb is a massive turn off for the fans! Talked to a fair few people at Rally GB and they all wanted Petter to win and for him to get the top drive that he deserves!snowy slopes said:
Allyc85 said:
EDLT said:
Petter needs a bigger budget because he is competing with the manufacturer teams. No idea why he didn't get Hirvonnen/Latvala's seat though, maybe he doesn't want to be stuck in an uncompetitive car?
He wont get a Ford seat beause when he came to the WRC he pissed off Malcom Wilson by signing a full time contract with Subaru after Ford gave him his big chance. Now Ford are struggling and IMO Malcom Wilson is too far stuck up his own arse to see what ana amazing talent Petter always will be and what an asset to the team! He is so much more popular than anyone else out there while Loeb is a massive turn off for the fans! Talked to a fair few people at Rally GB and they all wanted Petter to win and for him to get the top drive that he deserves!
There's no room for him
There's only Citroen and Ford established at the moment. Citroen have Loeb, Ford have Hirvonen and Latvala and Solberg has kind of burnt some bridges there.
There's Mini of course, and another manufacturer coming in, but these teams are starting from scratch. Which I'm not sure is where PS wants to be...
Plus, he is (or was) one of the few paid drivers in WRC. All the others have to bring personal sponsorship.
There's only Citroen and Ford established at the moment. Citroen have Loeb, Ford have Hirvonen and Latvala and Solberg has kind of burnt some bridges there.
There's Mini of course, and another manufacturer coming in, but these teams are starting from scratch. Which I'm not sure is where PS wants to be...
Plus, he is (or was) one of the few paid drivers in WRC. All the others have to bring personal sponsorship.
He did manage to get a lot of spnosorship but i believe the last two rounds of the year he funded out of his own pocket due to a sponsor pulling the plug, he needs to find more sponsors to run the team and isn't willing to keep paying for it himself, i think its something like 3million euro's to do the season?
Out of the current drivers i would rate them as Loeb, Solberg then Latvala in that order, Ogier is coming on too and i think now that Latvala has more experience he will develop into fords no1 next year
How a guy like Solberg may not have a drive though is ridiculous as the series needs genuine talents like him, he won't get a ford becuase wilson can't see past his own issues to the performance he could bring to the team, we just have to hope he gets a citroen but even then if he runs it himself citroen have already said they won't provide technical assistance presumably to ensure there is no risk to the works team, i think he was already being handled at some events this year for citroens benefit
Out of the current drivers i would rate them as Loeb, Solberg then Latvala in that order, Ogier is coming on too and i think now that Latvala has more experience he will develop into fords no1 next year
How a guy like Solberg may not have a drive though is ridiculous as the series needs genuine talents like him, he won't get a ford becuase wilson can't see past his own issues to the performance he could bring to the team, we just have to hope he gets a citroen but even then if he runs it himself citroen have already said they won't provide technical assistance presumably to ensure there is no risk to the works team, i think he was already being handled at some events this year for citroens benefit
I'm surprised he has not been signed either. The Prodrive Mini would be a pretty ideal partnership seeing as he has worked with Prodrive previously, most of his mechanics and engineers were working for Prodrive when Subaru left and from what was published he left a bit disheartened but on good terms.
The only factor that wouldn't be ideal for Petter is the Mini WRC is only going to be running a partial campaign. If Petter and Prodrive were to re-unite I could see him running a Mini WRC as a semi-privateer when Prodrive are not competing then full factory when they do. It would help Mini, extra competitive testing and data for a full works campaign the following year?
From what Petter has said he was looking to run a Citroen next year seeing as the Xsara/C4 was so dominant throughout the WRC these last 7 years. If he doesn't get a supported drive and he can fund another season as a privateer he will likely use a DS3.
The only factor that wouldn't be ideal for Petter is the Mini WRC is only going to be running a partial campaign. If Petter and Prodrive were to re-unite I could see him running a Mini WRC as a semi-privateer when Prodrive are not competing then full factory when they do. It would help Mini, extra competitive testing and data for a full works campaign the following year?
From what Petter has said he was looking to run a Citroen next year seeing as the Xsara/C4 was so dominant throughout the WRC these last 7 years. If he doesn't get a supported drive and he can fund another season as a privateer he will likely use a DS3.
And what really pisses me off is when average rich boys like kuipers get them selves a brand new Fiesta WRC!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88545
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88545
johnfelstead said:
What in that story could possibly piss you off? Isnt it good news for the guys at MSport and the WRC in general that another team has committed to running a car next season?
The fact that he hasnt really shown amazing speed and that hes a rich boy whos been bought a drive, when theres better young talents out there like Keith Cronin who has nothing! Plus the fact Petter still dosnt have a drive!weyland yutani said:
Helped by the fact that Loeb has the personality of a turnip.
Petter is ace, great driver and a good guy too.
I totally agree. Don't know what rally it was, but I think it was his last year in the works Subaru and he ended up having a full on sideways moment at about 60mph and the in car footage showed him turn to his co-driver once he recovered it and he just said 'Oh my god'. Then screamed off down the road.Petter is ace, great driver and a good guy too.
Come the end, they put the mic in front of Loeb and asked him about a 'moment' he had and he just gave this dull metronomic answer without cracking his facial expression, but when they did the same to Solberg his face lit up and he let out this MASSIVE 'Oooooooh myyyyyy goodness, did you SEE it?!'.
Makes me laugh even to to this day
spunkytherabbit said:
weyland yutani said:
Helped by the fact that Loeb has the personality of a turnip.
Petter is ace, great driver and a good guy too.
I totally agree. Don't know what rally it was, but I think it was his last year in the works Subaru and he ended up having a full on sideways moment at about 60mph and the in car footage showed him turn to his co-driver once he recovered it and he just said 'Oh my god'. Then screamed off down the road.Petter is ace, great driver and a good guy too.
Come the end, they put the mic in front of Loeb and asked him about a 'moment' he had and he just gave this dull metronomic answer without cracking his facial expression, but when they did the same to Solberg his face lit up and he let out this MASSIVE 'Oooooooh myyyyyy goodness, did you SEE it?!'.
Makes me laugh even to to this day
Really says something bad about the WRC when a guy like Petter with the commitment and talent he has shown to keep driving cannot get a drive.
Its a shame Malcolm Wilson is a dick. I mean Matthew Wilson!? Why does he get a drive I wonder?
He is my favourite driver on the WRC by far
Its a shame Malcolm Wilson is a dick. I mean Matthew Wilson!? Why does he get a drive I wonder?
He is my favourite driver on the WRC by far
Edited by JM16v on Thursday 2nd December 16:31
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