Rally Poland started with a Super Special just outside the service park, and Petter, paired with Henning on the stage, was fastest. After two rounds on the track specially build for the rally, he was just a big smile when he crossed the finish.

"This is great", he said. "It was really slippery some places because of the rain, but I couldn’t get a better start. Gives us the good feeling we need before the weekend starts, as I am certain this will be our toughest rally this season".

On the first day Petter is fifth overall. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally. Sebastien Loeb went off the road on the first stage of the day.

"The day is pretty much as I expected. It’s flat out all the way, and we don’t have the same power. But, in tricky sections we are fighting". "On the first part of the last stage this morning we had some really good splits and on the same pace as the others".

As the first day is completed in Poland, Petter is fourth. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally. Sebastien Loeb hit a tree stump 1,2kms into SS4 and had to retire with a damaged front right wheel.

"I am quite happy with the day, the car is working well but I couldn’t go any faster. It’s been absolutely flat out and we have been on the limit several times. Even with a full throttle we are 7-10kms slower than the rest, so fourth is just about what we expected".

On the second day the lack of speed was once again the issue against the factory entered WRC cars. "We are absolutely flat out all the time and really on the limit, we cannot go any faster". "We changed to a different engine program for the morning loop, but went back to yesterdays for the afternoon loop. We also changed to stiffer springs, and it made the body more stable in the ruts. The stages are unbelievable fast, our average speed on SS13 were 116km/ph".

At the end of the day Petter is fifth, 7 seconds behind Ogier who is fourth. Mikko Hirvonen is leading the rally. Sebastien Loeb, who had to retire yesterday, restarted today under SupeRally regulation and is now 15. Rally Poland ends with 5 stages on Sunday.

Day three started badly for Petter when on the opening stage a missing dip stick sprayed oil on to the windscreen ending his challenge for fourth place.

"Petter started off fast but 10 kilometres into SS14 the dip-stick blew out of its socket and a lot of oil blew out into the engine bay," explained Rees. "Some of that got onto the windscreen and from the midway point Petter's visibility was gone completely."

But Petter was not the only crews to have problems on the last day with both Ogier and Latvala striking problems, the latter on the final super special run. This promoted the Citroen Xara of Petter and Phil up to fourth place

Results Poland
1. Mikko Hirvonen, Ford
2. Dani Sordo, Citroen          +1.10,3
3. Henning, Ford                    +2.05,7
4. Petter, Citroen                    +2.24,3
5. Matthew Wilson, Ford          +4.17,5
6. Holowczyc, Ford                 +4.33,9
7. Sebastien Loeb, Citroen       +19.15,1
8. Conrad Rautenbach, Citroen +19.20,6