Petter Solberg and his PSWRT have decided not to restart Rally Spain, following the Norwegian’s retirement on the opening stage this morning.
The damage – a broken front-wheel – could have been repaired but they have chosen to give up on this rally and instead concentrate on the final round of the season, in three weeks time.
“It is possible to repair the car and restart again, but we have decided to preserve the car and instead put everything into the final event of the year, Wales Rally GB”, said Solberg, who had hinted at such a decision earlier today.
Solberg’s retirement was caused by poor visibility on the first stage.
“There was so much dust it was impossible to see anything”, he recalled. “In a corner we hit a concrete-barrier and the wheel went off. It was not possible to continue.”