Solberg comfortably wins first Swedish Rally

Norway's Petter Solberg comfortably won his first Swedish Rally yesterday after the withdrawal of closest challenger Marcus Gronholm on the day's second stage.

Gronholm ruined a tyre by hitting a stone on the Rammen 1 stage and got stuck in a curve, blocking the way for drivers behind him.

The Finnish two-times world champion led the race on Friday and duelled with Solberg during Saturday's stages, trailing 12.6 seconds behind the Norwegian going into the final leg.

Peugeot's Markko Martin finished second more than two minutes behind. Finland's Toni Gardemeister in a Ford finished third, 3:14.7 behind Solberg.

It was the 11th career win but the first on the snow-covered stages in Karlstad for Subaru's Solberg, the 2003 world champion, who drove more conservatively during the final day.

He clinched the day's opening stage but then opted for safety when Gronholm retired, and the highest he placed in the remaining stages of the day was fifth.

"It's incredible," said Solberg, who was engulfed by an enthusiastic Scandinavian crowd at the finish.

"It has been a dream for me to win this event for years, and the support of the fans from Sweden and Norway this weekend has been great.

"Also, I can't tell you how much work the team have put in before this rally after the disappointment of Monte Carlo," he added, referring to his withdrawal from last month's race after he hit a wall beyond the ill-famed Turini mountain pass.

Citroen's world champion Sebastien Loeb of France was in third going into the final leg before motor problems he sustained on the final two stages on Saturday forced him out after Lesjofors 2, the day's fourth stage.

Championship standings

Drivers (after two of 16 rounds): 1. Gardemeister (Finland, Ford) 14, 2. Martin (Estonia, Peugeot) 13, 3. Loeb (France, Citroen) 10; 4. P. Solberg (Norway, Subaru) 10; 5. Rovanpera (Finland, Mitsubishi) 8; 6. Panizzi (France, Mitsubishi) 6; 7. Gronholm (Finland, Peugeot) 4; 8. H. Solberg (Norway, Ford) 4; 9. Carlsson (Sweden, Peugeot) 3; 10. Stohl (Austria, Citroen) 2.

Manufacturers: 1. Ford 20; 2. Peugeot 17; 3. Mitsubishi 17; 4. Citroen 11; 5. Subaru 10; 6. Skoda 3.