World RX: Petter Solberg switches to Volkswagen and receives factory support

Two-time world rallycross champion Petter Solberg has secured a ride with factory-backed Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar for the 2017 World Rallycross Championship season. Solberg’s private PSRX team will work in alliance with Volkswagen Motorsport, Volkswagen Sweden and Monster Energy in an attack to his fourth championship title, after he triumphed in the 2003 World Rally Championship and two times (2014, 2015) in the World RX.

Solberg’s partner in the team would be Johan Kristoffersson, who knows how to drive Volkswagen Polo RX, as he finished third with that car in the world championship in 2015 and the runner-up in 2016.

Volkswagen RX Sweden’s Polo Supercar

Solberg competed three seasons in the World Rallycross Championship with privately entered and prepared Citroen DS3 but without any marks of the French manufacturer because he didn’t get any support from Citroen. Now, entering the season with factory-backed car, Solberg says that his dream comes true.

“Honestly, this is what I have dreamed of. We have worked so hard on putting this deal together, it’s taken a while to get there, but I truly believe that we now have such a strong force for this year’s championship. We have seen what Volkswagen is capable of in motorsport, just look at the domination of Dakar and the World Rally Championship. To be working with them in World Rallycross is just incredible,” Solberg said.

He and Kristoffersson will also fight for the WRX Manufacturers’ title, with a support from technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison, who previously worked with Solberg at both the factory Subaru team and Solberg’s private WRC team.

Photos: fiaworldrallycross.com,