Hollywood Superstar
2003 Season So Far
wrc.com rates the driver's performance on each of 2003 season's rallies.
Monte Carlo: Petter was bitterly disappointed after crashing out on the first day, he has been setting top three times before his off. 5/10
Sweden: Petter just didn't feel comfy on his tyres and as a result his times suffered. He changed to a different tyre on Sunday and he eventually grabbed sixth place. 6/10
Turkey: Solberg hasn't had much luck this season, and what luck he did have ran out on SS4. Showed a turn of speed and felt good about the car though. 5/10.
The Man
Bubbly and effervescent, Petter 'Hollywood' Solberg is an emotional guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. A natural behind the wheel and in front of the camera, Solberg leads the next generation of WRC superstars, but this man still has his feet firmly on the ground.
He has the noisiest bunch of fans on the WRC circuit and Petter always takes time out to speak to them during rallies and organises the big parties for his supporters' club back home. And he knows how to party - this former disco-dancing champion often struts his stuff at post-rally bashes. Pin-up Petter broke a thousand hearts when he proposed to long-time girlfriend Pernilla just before Rally Australia last year. He had planned to do it sooner but was prevented from doing so when he left the ring back home in Norway. Doh!
The Driver
His disco-dancing background gives a hint at how this man drives his Subaru Impreza. He describes driving a rally car like this:
"I want to dance through the woods. It's about flow and rhythm. But every time you go sideways, you're losing time. Judging speed and cornering is very much a physical thing. I feel it through my bum, mainly. That's the dancing element, I guess. I feel when I'm going too sideways rather than looking at an angle through the windscreen. That bit's physical. A 'flow' doesn't mean getting ragged or sloppy – it's just like finding a natural rhythm or work rate."