World RX – Solberg: “I feel better every day”

Defeated in the final of the Trois-Rivières event in Canada after dominating the qualifying phases, Petter Solberg had the end of the meeting marked by a rare accident. The Citroën DS3 of the two-time reigning World RX champion was hit by Anton Marklund's Volkswagen Polo just after the finish line, with the VW Sweden RX driver left without brakes.

Transported to hospital for check-ups, the former 2003 world rally champion sent reassuring news, no fracture having been diagnosed. “Hollywood” was recently able to reunite with its team for the first time, and remains confident about its participation in the next event at Lohéac in Brittany (September 3-4).

“The car is currently being rebuilt at Bertel O. Steen in Oslo, Solberg said on his Facebook page. They did everything necessary to have all the necessary resources available in their workshop and to have the car ready for the next round in two weeks in France. The Bertel O. Steen team is working with PSRX day and night this week.

We are ahead of schedule, and everything is very positive. But we are just at the beginning of this process. We are in a race against time, and I am very excited to see where we will be in a week's time. My back is making progress, and I feel better every day. I am confident that my body will be healed in time for the race. I hope I will be able to be ready to race in France. »

The Norwegian, winner in France in 2014, was beaten by Timmy Hansen last year, and will seek to consolidate his lead at the top of the general classification, a position he regained at the end of the Canadian round.