Solberg to take engine penalty for World RX season finale.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World Rallycross Media

Two-time World RX Champion Petter Solberg's chance of claiming second in the 2018 FIA World Rallycross championship has faced a major set back after his team was forced to change the engine in his Volkswagen Polo R Supercar following the last round in Buxtehude. 

The engine change comes with a 15-point penalty making his chance of claiming second a very tough task.  

“It won’t be easy at all. Basically if any of the other three drivers (Sébastien Loeb, Andreas Bakkerud or Mattias Ekstrom) makes it to the final then I can’t do anything," said Solberg. "I’m not thinking about any of that, I’m just thinking to my own race – I will do everything I can do and then see what happens on Sunday afternoon."

The Norwegian has not had it easy this season coming close to withdrawing from the championship after being diagnosed with lung disease "Sarkoidose" in 2017. He revealed  that he has had very low energy and at times vision issues. However, following successful treatment throughout the year, Solberg felt much more energized and healthier, and at the American round of the championship, he came within two laps of victory at the first ever World RX of USA, but made a mistake on lap five of the final and finished second behind his teammate.

“This has been a tough season for me, in and out of the car. In the middle of the year, just to be thinking of fighting for the silver medal was a bit like a dream for me. I’m happy to be competing," says the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver.   

"And now we can come to one of the best tracks of the year in a fantastic place with a big crowd and a great atmosphere."

If Solberg can finish second in the World RX Drivers’ Championship it will be a Hat Trick for the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team, which has also already won the World RX Teams’ Championship.