Manpower, not Horsepower, a strategy opted by Petter Solberg

It’s only right that on a rally as stunning as Rally México, one of the World Rally Championship’s most charismatic drivers – Petter Solberg – was the centre of attention from the moment the event was added to the schedule.

Despite having the number one on the door of his Subaru Impreza WRC, Solberg was desperate for a win as he came to México for the first time after Sébastien Loeb had won the first two rounds of the 2004 season.

Running on Pirelli tyres while his competitors were on Michelins gave Solberg an edge in the Mexican mountains, which he took full advantage of. At the end of the first day, the vehicles returned to the first service break in León, where Solberg had been fastest on both SS1 and SS3.

However, Solberg was fortunate to be there at all, let alone in the lead, after running dangerously wide on SS4 and crashing into a ditch, which lifted the rear of his Subaru into the air and damaged the rear-right toe link.

However, it wasn’t this problem that caused Subaru’s management staff to become concerned when Solberg checked into service. The León service area was distinctive in that it was inside and had an inclination from the in-control to the time control for end-of-day service.

Solberg’s Subaru’s battery had died and he couldn’t get it started. Because he was racing against the clock, the regulations stipulated that only Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills may propel the vehicle.

Despite their best efforts to grasp the roll cage and drag the vehicle forward, the steepness of the road and the lack of grip offered by Alpinestars’ best racing boots meant the Impreza just wouldn’t move.

Finally, a crowd of people rushed to Solberg and Mills’ aid, and the automobile was pressed into duty. Outside help, whether solicited by the competing crew or not, was a violation of the rules, and Solberg and Mills were fined 5m40s.

Solberg was quickest – and by a significant margin – on all six of Saturday’s stages, finally rising from 13th to the fourth position at the finish of the race.

Solberg is upbeat about today’s drama, citing a previous encounter with his son Oliver had with a similar situation.