Petter Solberg

Date of birth:  18 November 1974
Nationality: Norwegian
Lives:   Monaco
Marital status:  Married to Pernilla, one son Oliver
First rally:  1996
WRC debut:  1998 Sweden
Hobbies:  Quad-biking, radio-controlled cars, fishing, riding snow-mobiles and driving
on frozen lakes, all with Oliver

“I want to win as many points as possible in the first part of this year with the current car. We will start with a measured approach to the season, but of course we will be pushing. Before the new car arrives it would be good to win a rally, but for sure points are the priority.” Petter Solberg

Petter Solberg is one of the foremost rally drivers in the world. The effervescent and aptly nicknamed Hollywood is as gregarious as he is dedicated and focussed. Intensely competitive, his drive and determination took him to World Championship honours in 2003, just three seasons after joining the Subaru World Rally Team.

His passion for cars and speed started when he was still too young to enter rallies, and he became Norwegian radio-controlled Champion at the tender age of 13.

Petter’s rally-driving career commenced on the fields of his parents' farm near Oslo, where he developed his flamboyant but precise car control from the age of just eight. With his parents both keen on rallycross, it was no surprise that his debut in the Norwegian Autocross Championship came as soon as he was old enough, aged just 17.

One of the most popular drivers in the WRC, he is a superstar in his native Norway. It is hard to pick a rally stage that is not lined with his loyal supporters, adorned in Norwegian flags, who travel the length and breadth of the globe to support their hero.

After narrowly missing out on the title in 2004 and 2005, and scoring only two podiums in 2007 after what has been a series of difficult years, Petter is more focussed than ever on taking to the top step of the podium. Hungry to once again taste the champagne of success, more victories are sure to be on the way for the affable Norwegian.

Career history
2007:  Fifth place, World Rally Championship
2006:  Sixth place, World Rally Championship
2005:  Second place, World Rally Championship
2004:  Solberg claimed five rally victories, including his third consecutive win on Rally GB, to finish second in the World Rally Championship
2003:  A spectacular win on Rally GB, the final round of the season, delivered Solberg’s first World Rally Championship title
2002:  Second place, World Rally Championship
2001:  Solberg scored the highest WRC finish of his career, with second in Greece
2000:  Signed by the Subaru World Rally Team in August
1999:  Solberg signed his first works WRC deal with the Ford World Rally Team, and debuted in an Escort in Sweden. He sat alongside Phil Mills for the first time. Solberg replaced Thomas Rådström on the Safari Rally, Rally Portugal and Rally GB.
1998:  Solberg’s first major championship victory came in the Group A Norwegian Rally Championship. He also made his WRC debut, finishing 14th on Rally Sweden.
1997:  Norwegian hillclimbing champion
1996:  Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240. In September, Solberg made his rally debut aboard a Toyota Celica GT4
1995:  Norwegian rallycross and hillclimbing champion, driving a Volvo 240
1992:  Debuted in the Norwegian Autocross Championship

Phil Mills

Date of birth:  30 August 1963
Nationality: Welsh
Lives:   Newtown, Wales
Marital status:  Lives with Helen, daughter Sioned and son Iwan
First rally:  1983
WRC debut:  1994
Hobbies:  Shooting, cycling, and collecting watches

“We’ll be pushing as hard as ever, you can be sure of that. There are a few things next year that will affect the results, like not having anti-deflation mousse in the tyres, so we must always attack to take advantage of such situations. Points are the goal for the first portion of next season when we are in the current car.” Phil Mills.

Phil Mills’ partnership with Petter Solberg is one of the longest running in the WRC, a testament to the duo’s relationship and the Welshman’s dedication, precision and absolute thoroughness towards his role. Working in one of the fastest offices in the world, Phil is no stranger to success, having won the 2003 World Rally Championship after a victory on the final rally of the year, Wales Rally GB, in his own back yard.

Phil has huge experience in rallying, from local asphalt events to the WRC, having been at the forefront of the sport for 13 years. He moved to the Subaru World Rally Team in August 2000, along with Petter, whom he joined 1999, and the 2008 season will bring their 125th WRC rally together.

One of the most dynamic driver/co-driver partnerships in the championship, Phil’s approach to rallying complements Petter’s driving style, and the two share in the same commitment to success. Once a team co-ordinator, his preparedness is outstanding.

Whilst fans may believe in luck, neither drivers nor co-drivers share quite the same sentiment, and Phil leaves nothing to chance.

Alongside the hungry Petter, Phil has an equally burning desire to return to the top, and will be pushing hard in 2008 for the silverware.

Career history
2007:  Fifth place, World Rally Championship
2006:  Sixth place, World Rally Championship
2005:  Second place, World Rally Championship
2004:  Mills claimed five rally victories alongside Solberg, including his third consecutive win on Rally GB, to finish second in the World Rally Championship
2003:  Following a spectacular second win in Wales, Mills was crowned World Rally Champion with Solberg
2002:  Second place, World Rally Championship and a win in Wales on Rally GB
2000:  Mills stayed alongside Solberg and was signed by the Subaru World Rally Team 
1999:  Signed by Ford World Rally Team and joined an inexperienced Solberg, co-driving for him for the first time
1998:  Mills contested five WRC events alongside Higgins
1997:  Mills and Higgins won their first British Rally Championship. Mills continued to work at the newly renamed M-Sport, and made his WRC debut in Corsica alongside Armin Schwarz.
1996:  Mills joined Mark Higgins in the British Rally Championship, and the duo finished second in the series and achieved fourth overall on the RAC Rally
1994:  Mills made his WRC debut, and alongside multiple Middle East champion Mohammed Bin Sulayem, whom Mills was working with at Malcolm Wilson Motorsport, the Welshman won his first international event on the Rally of Jordan
1993:  Mills switched roles for the RAC Rally to become team coordinator for Malcolm Wilson Motorsport. He also won the Welsh National Championship again
1992:  Winner, Welsh National Championship
1990:  Mills debuted in the British Rally Championship in the Group N category. He finished third on his home event
1988:  With a wealth of club experience behind him, Mills stepped up his level of work in a bid to climb the ranks. He competed in 88 rallies in two years from 1988-89
1984:  Mills won his class in the Welsh Road Rally Championship
1983:  Mills debuted on the rally scene co-driving in road rallies around his home town