Solberg and Atkinson are up for the challengeFor the Subaru World Rally Team drivers, the off-season was filled with a mixture of testing and media commitments, time with family and friends and preparations for this season.
In early January, Petter Solberg and Chris
Atkinson took part in an asphalt tyre test near Lyon, France in preparation for the season-opening Rally Monte Carlo. That test was shortly followed by two more days in Sweden at the wheel of the Impreza WRC2007.
"It is important to get into a rhythm straight away and settle into a pace you feel comfortable with," explained Solberg.
The Norwegian continued with his appreciation of the challenge represented by the mountainous tarmac race, well known for its frequently changing surface conditions as ice and snow in shadowy areas often alternate between dry sunny sections.
"With no anti-deflation mousse you can't take risks in the stages as a puncture could finish your rally," Solberg continued. "There will be a lot of snow I think and Monte is always tricky anyway so it won't be easy, that's for sure.
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"It will be about who can make the most of their tyres and adapt to the conditions fastest, but if someone manages something special with them people will follow quickly," he considered.
Teammate Chris Atkinson is looking forward to the attack: "It's going to be an interesting event for sure. It's raining here in Monaco so I'm sure it's snowing in the stages already. I've never done this event with a lot of snow so it's new for me."
"Both times I've run this rally we've had good results, but I don't underestimate how much of a challenge it is," the Australian elaborated. "Although the tyre choices aren't wide because we only have one slick and a winter tyre, it's going to be important when we choose to take each one, and we have to watch out for punctures."
"I'm definitely looking forward to starting the season again now though," Atkinson concluded.
Source Subaru World Rally Team
