Was in Parc Ferme and got chatting to someone ;-) (Credible source before you ask) and it is just about a done deal that Petter will partner Loeb next season. He's is sick to the back teeth of the Subaru, its just not competitive enough for him.

Whilst were on the subject of drivers im putting my cards on the table and im gunna predict that the seat left by Petters move will be filled by.....

GUY WILKS

Any other takers ??

RMH

thats interesting, i thought Petter was signed to Subaru for a couple more years to come? I was expecting him to hang around for one more year to see what the new hatchback based Impreza would be like before making the switch for '09 if it wasn't fast.

Has anything been agreed by Ford with Gronholms replacement? The logical choice is for Latvala to step up from Stobart with Hirvonen being their number 1 driver.

Wilks in the Subaru makes sense - for the team to get a British driver will mean a lot of increased attention/media focus. Not sure if he's ready for the step up yet though, experience wise. Or if Atkinson is ready to be Subaru's no.1 either.....

Thats what i thought....But its a contract like any other, there will be a release clause in there somewhere. Latvala has been confirmed as No. 2 driver for next season. He deserves it, hes a very nice bloke and obviously a very talented driver.

With regards to subaru....Chris has been consistantly finishing rallies which he failed to do when he first joined them. Wilks was crowned P-WRC champion and BRC champion in Wales, also he has competed on 6 rounds of this years WRC. 5 in a WRC Focus and 1 in a WRC Impreza (coincidence ???) i think its about time to give him a chance in a works seat. I belive he has enough experience. He's constantly beaten Higgins and Evans in this years BRC which is no mean task itself !......Time will tell. I hope he does get the seat (if it becomes available) he deserves it, he is also a top bloke.

Im sure it will all come out in the wash over the next few weeks.

RMH

Was chatting to Petter and Phil at the start ceremony on thursday, they were going to start testing the new car in 10 days time.

I cant see Petter being happy at being no.2 at Chitreon, and I can't see Loeb liking being beaten by a teammate.

thats the thing - neither driver would want to be shown to be slower than the other - at the moment, differences can be blamed on the car. Solberg would probably be beaten fair and square at Citroen, and i doubt he'd want to risk being shown up as slower than Loeb....

I personally can't see Petter in anything other than a Subaru.

With Dave Richards being more hands on, and David Lapworth is returning also I heard, these two will put SWRT back on track.

Agree with WR 1mposter

rallymad_homer

Be careful with "reliable sources". It may be true, it may not be true, but generally, sources who really ARE reliable, don't tend to tell anyone, and if they do, they only tell people who they can trust not to tell anyone else, let alone post it on a public forum! :)

True, it may be right, it may be wrong. Ive taken it with a pinch of salt. I am in agreement that Petter is a Subaru man through and through and i wouldnt want him to leave. But you have to admit, If it was true then Citreon would have a true "Dream Team".

We'll see

RMH

Yeah, no question

Phill Mills said on stage @ Rally Day that "they" will be with Subaru until the end of their contract (2009 I think he said) and then he (Phill) may retire. (appologies in advance if I got it wrong:o )

What on earth would Citroen want with Solberg :lol: ;)

Citreon don't need Petter and as has been said he would not want to be Seb's number 2, so I don't think there is any truth in this rumour.

Well to thrown more fuel on the fire.

Valentino Rossi will be driving for SRT in 2009.

Steve

What on earth would Citroen want with Solberg :lol: ;)

What on earth would Solberg want with Chitreon:lol1:


Subaru is to rally, what Ferrari is to F1.


They have had a few bad years I admit, but it will change !

What on earth would Solberg want with Chitreon:lol1:


Subaru is to rally, what Ferrari is to F1.


They have had a few bad years I admit, but it will change !

Totaly agree :thumb:

but it will change !

based on what mate?

new car?

based on what mate?

new car?


Based on that "Prodrive F1" has been cancelled, so more money for
research and development on the new car, although the "new car"
will not be used until probably half way through the season.

Dave Richards taking more of a hands on part and the return
of David Lapworth, who believes in Solberg, rumours are Paul Howarth does'nt !

So hopefully a return to winning ways sooner rather than later.

based on what mate?

new car?


sad to say it but i agree.....

subaru will come back to the top when ford and Citroen pull out... will keep the dreaming but just dont see it ....:confused:

All

Just to confirm that both Chris and Petter have a contract with the team until 2009 - that means two more years with us, to include the release of the new car during 2008, which they, like us all, are eagerly awaiting.

The rumours and credible sources on here do raise a grin every now and then ;-)

All

Just to confirm that both Chris and Petter have a contract with the team until 2009 - that means two more years with us, to include the release of the new car during 2008, which they, like us all, are eagerly awaiting.

The rumours and credible sources on here do raise a grin every now and then ;-)

I guess you don't get much more credible than that ;)

Looking forward to seeing them in the new car :D

When is the new car due out? :)

Approximately mid-year is all I can say at the moment. It will not be at the first rally of the year, in Monte, as many people think or anticipate, but this is all I can say at this stage.

Finland would be good, hope to be out there:cool:

Watched Rallyworld on sky this evening, brought up the "who's going where"
Solberg has had talks with Citreon and Ford but is staying with SWRT, but they did'nt say who contacted who !
:luxhello: :luxhello: :luxhello:

I think it is one of Fords biggest regrets letting Petter go, especially because it was a hole in the contract!
Would they want him back???
JML is quick now...