Norwegian medias announce today that the talks between Ford M-Sport and Petter Solberg ahead of 2013 have failed.
Solberg, who clinched world title with Subaru in 2003, was left without an official seat after the japanese constructor announced its retirement at the end of 2009. The Norwegian driver ran the 2010 and 2011 seasons with his own private team, driving a Citroen C4 then a Citroen DS3.
In 2012, Solberg was back in an official team with Ford, that he reached replacing Mikko Hirvonen who went to Citroen. But Solberg failed to win any event this season, and made several off road that cost of lot to the Ford team.
Petter Solberg recently revealed that he was close to a deal with Citroen for 2013, but the talks between him and the french squad have stopped after his poor end of season. Today, several norwegian medias announce that he also failed to secure a seat with team M-Sport, and that he would stop his WRC career. After Ford stopped its involvement in WRC, team M-Sport has now to find budget to run its Ford Fiesta in
Another norwegian driver, Mads Ostberg, winner of Rally Portugal in 2012, has been promoted as number one driver in team M-Sport. Russian driver Evgeny Novikov seems very close to join him in the british squad.
After Sebastien Loeb, who will only run selected rounds next season, another great champion, and one the most popular driver, will leave the WRC next year.
Solberg, who clinched world title with Subaru in 2003, was left without an official seat after the japanese constructor announced its retirement at the end of 2009. The Norwegian driver ran the 2010 and 2011 seasons with his own private team, driving a Citroen C4 then a Citroen DS3.
In 2012, Solberg was back in an official team with Ford, that he reached replacing Mikko Hirvonen who went to Citroen. But Solberg failed to win any event this season, and made several off road that cost of lot to the Ford team.
 |
| Petter Solberg, Ford Fiesta WRC. (Photo: WRC) |
Petter Solberg recently revealed that he was close to a deal with Citroen for 2013, but the talks between him and the french squad have stopped after his poor end of season. Today, several norwegian medias announce that he also failed to secure a seat with team M-Sport, and that he would stop his WRC career. After Ford stopped its involvement in WRC, team M-Sport has now to find budget to run its Ford Fiesta in
Another norwegian driver, Mads Ostberg, winner of Rally Portugal in 2012, has been promoted as number one driver in team M-Sport. Russian driver Evgeny Novikov seems very close to join him in the british squad.
After Sebastien Loeb, who will only run selected rounds next season, another great champion, and one the most popular driver, will leave the WRC next year.