Petter Solberg enters Rally Sweden Historic

Petter Solberg will start in Rally Sweden. The Norwegian will compete in the historic class together with wife Pernilla as co-driver. The couple will compete in a Ford Escort Mk2. It feels really great to be able to do this for my fans, says Petter, who promises to put on a show on the stages. Petter Solberg is no longer competing in the WRC. The 2012 season was his last in the WRC. Now, new challenges awaits.
I will be presenting my plans for 2013 before Rally Sweden, says Solberg, while staying in his home in Mitandersfors in Värmland.
But for now he reveals that he will be competing in Rally Sweden Historic, a rally for historic cars taking place February 8-9.
On the Friday the historic cars will run the stages Vargåsen 1 and the Super special at Färjestadstravet in Karlstad. On the Saturday they will run Sågen, Fredriksberg and Rämmen before the last stage, Hagfors Sprint.
If I can’t drive in the WRC I will have to find other things to keep myself busy, jokes Petter, who made his premiere run in the Ford Escort Mk2 in the Finnskogsvalsen rally, close to Torsby in the north of Värmland on January 19.
The married couple ran as safety car, with Petter driving and Pernilla co-driving. And so they will do again in Rally Sweden Historic where their Escort -79 will compete in class 3, for cars from 1976 to 1981.
I’d hate to miss Rally Sweden and even if I won’t take part in the WRC event or drive a WRC car it still feels really inspiring to take part once again, says Petter, and ads:
I and Pernilla do this for the fun of it and we promise to put on a show on the stages.
Petter Solberg, who was WRC champion 2003 and won Rally Sweden 2005, was not entered in Rally Sweden Historic when the entries closed.
But for Petter and Pernilla I have used my option to award a Wild Card, says Clerk of the Course Bertil Klarin, who is very pleased that the first ever historic class attracts one of the WRC’s greatest stars.
To have Petter among the competitors is a real kick and also good proof that the interest in Rally Sweden Historic is great.
Photo: Anders Ekström
Petter and Pernilla Solberg will be competing in Rally Sweden Historic in a Ford Escort Mk2. The married couple made their premiere run in the Finnskogsvalsen rally, close to Torsby in the north of Värmland on January 19.