WRC: Petter Solberg joins Citroen's Junior squad for Rally GB

From www.wrc.com

Petter Solberg could end up playing a crucial role in deciding this year's FIA World Championship titles after being signed by the Citroen Junior Team for the last round of the season, Rally GB.

Three weeks ago the 2003 World Champion announced he had secured a Citroen C4 for the final two WRC rounds in Spain and GB and would be running it under his own Petter Solberg World Rally Team banner.

Late last week, however, Petter accepted a subsequent invitation from Citroen to 'upgrade' his privateer entry for Rally GB to one with the Citroen Junior Team. Solberg and Junior team regular Sébastien Ogier have since been nominated as the team's two drivers eligible to score manufacturers' championship points in Wales.

Solberg's signing comes at a critical time in the season, with both the drivers' and manufacturers' titles undecided and just two rallies remaining. So far this season Solberg's privateer status has meant he has been eligible only to score driver points, but as an official entry in GB the Norwegian will take points in both contests.

Solberg is a four-time winner of Rally GB, and at the wheel of a semi-works team Citroen C4 he is aiming to notch up his fifth this October. Solberg acknowledged that his decision to represent Citroen might be an unwelcome development for the rival Ford team - who he is still talking to about opportunities next year - but he tried to distance himself from the strategic implications.