United Kingdom, Nov 11: Petter Solberg becomes first Norwegian to win the World Rally championship after victory at the last event of the season in Britain
Norwegian Petter Solberg was walking on air on Sunday (November 9) after becoming his country's first world rally champion. One year on from celebrating his first world rally championship success in Britain, the Subaru driver blasted through the Welsh forests to repeat the feat and claim his first title. It was a remarkable performance from a driver who started the season-ending rally one point behind Citroen's championship leader Sebastien Loeb.
The Norwegian had dominated the rally, winning every stage on Saturday. Solberg grew up driving around the field on his parents' farm near Oslo and, too young to compete in rallies, took his first title as a 13-year-old -- winning the Norwegian radio-controlled car championship.


He joined Subaru in 2000 and his partnership with four-times world champion Tommi Makinen, wearing golden boots to mark his final appearance on the world stage, flourished.


The Norwegian finished in style, setting the fastest time on the 12.6 km final stage that plunged downhill through the forests to open parkland.


Scrambling out of the car, he was hugged first by Finnish team mate Tommi Makinen who capped his last race before retirement with a podium finish in third place.


The Norwegian, who turns 29 on November 18, can now celebrate down on his farm with the fans. It was his fourth victory of the season and came a year after the first rally win of his world championship career against the same Welsh backdrop.


Last year 2,500 turned up to party after his first success. He can expect many more this time.


Solberg, who once won a dancing competition as a youngster, donned a horned Viking helmet and fell into the throng of cheering fans waving the Norwegian national flag.


Leading results in the season-ending Rally of Britain on Sunday (November 9): 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru three hours 28 minutes 58.1 seconds. 2. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 43.6 seconds behind 3. Tommi Makinen (Finland) Subaru +2:58.8 4. Colin McRae (Britain) Citroen +5:28.1 5. Francois Duval (Belgium) Ford +7:16.1 6. Freddy Loix (Beglium) Peugeot +8:06.5 7. Manfred Stohl (Austria) Peugeot +8:48.4 8. Roman Kresta (Czech Republic) Peugeot +9:02.6 9. Juuso Pykalisto (Finland) Peugeot +9:53.6 10. Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford +12:25.3


Final Championship standings 1. Solberg 72 points 2. Loeb 71 3. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Citroen 63 4. Richard Burns (Britain) Peugeot 58 5. Markko Martin (Estonia) Ford 49


Final Manufacturers standings 1. Citroen 160 2. Peugeot 145 3. Subaru 109 4. Ford 93 5. Skoda 23


Bureau Report