Solberg explains decision to stay with Subaru.

Subaru number one driver, Petter Solberg has said that the reason he decided to stay with the Banbury-based team and sign a new three-season deal with them is because he is convinced they can get back to the top.

Speaking following the announcement, 'Hollywood' conceded that while things have been tough this season, he is very happy to stay on. Although admittedly with manufacturer involvement as it is currently in the FIA World Rally Championship, he was unlikely to have had many options, especially as the BP-Ford line-up is set and Citroen are committed to Sebastien Loeb and in all likelihood Daniel Sordo, when they return officially in '07.

"Okay, it's been a difficult situation recently and we haven't won as much as we want, but I've seen the plan and the strategy and how things are going to work out. That's why I'm feeling very positive about signing for Subaru again - I know that they have always been in the top of this sport and they will be back at the top and start to win rallies again very soon," he noted.

"It is a difficult situation at the moment but that's how it is sometimes, there are ups and downs and when things are going badly it's very easy to run away, but that's not me. I want to stay and get back to the top again with the people I was on top with before."

Asked to explain his decision in more detail, he noted that he has faith in all the people at the squad, especially as he has worked with them since 2000, when he joined the team. During that time Solberg and his co-driver, Phil Mills have enjoyed a number of highs, including claiming 13 wins and 30 podiums, in addition to taking the drivers' title in 2003.

"At Subaru I have a very good team of people behind me, that's everybody including the mechanics, engineers, management and those at Subaru in Japan. Okay, I had some problems in my career when I started at Subaru but the team supported me very much and since then we have always stood together, through good and bad things," he added. "But the most important thing about this career is winning.

"Now I know it's difficult at Subaru just now, and there was talk that I might change teams, but I know that Subaru has all the abilities and all the qualities and the best people to handle this situation. I am very, very confident that we will start winning again soon. I would not have signed if I felt the team wasn't ready to win very soon."

To date this season the Impreza WRC has failed to match the form of the new Ford Focus and the Citroen Xsara of Sebastien Loeb. As such Solberg's best results have been two runners-up spots and he currently lies joint fifth in the drivers' championship with 20 points, 54 off runway leader, Loeb. While these results have left him frustrated he reckons there is much more to come from the car.

"It has much more to give," he continued. "Already it's working much better and I have tested a lot of things that have shown improved speed but still there are some things missing. The engineers have found out some of the reasons, we have a good direction now and we will work together so that I am 100 per cent happy with it. Hopefully we can unlock more of its potential very soon."

As for the future he has high hopes of course and will be eager to win the drivers' championship again, but for now he remains cautious.

"I want to say some big words, I really want to say I'm going to win all the championships but that would be stupid," he concluded. "What I can say is I have a lot of confidence in my ability as a driver. A lot depends on how quickly we can improve the performance of the car in general but I don't think it'll be too long. Once we're able to start pushing again then I think there will be some very, very good times ahead."