Opinion - The Contact Patch: Pertaining To Petter - And An STi Preview
Jul 28, 2005
by: A.J. Teixeira
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When I first heard that Miller Subaru was holding a Meet-and-Greet with World Rally Champ Petter Solberg and at the same time rolling out the new 2006 WRX STi, I knew I had to be there.
News that Petter Solberg was coming to American already excited and motivated Subaru fans to make a road trip, so the addition of the North American debut of the freshened WRX STi model was icing on the cake.
Miller Subaru hosted a Meet-and-Greet with 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg here in Lumberton, NJ. Fans learned first hand why he’s been nicknamed “Hollywood”, as the personable and funny rally driver entertained a rowdy crowd of over 400 people.
Those hundreds of fans had to brave the summer heat and humidity, as Petter greeted each of them patiently over a two hour period. He signed posters and whatever else people had brought – I noted a spoiler, interior trim, ash trays, and hood scoops. It almost seemed like a chop shop!
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Petter spoke about the continuous improvements Subaru makes to its lineup, and to the 2006 WRX STi model specifically. While some found the new roof vane spoiler and rear diffuser a bit too flashy, Solberg insisted they are functional and that “you can feel it”.
He spoke about the current World Rally Championship, where he is currently in 2nd place, and mentioned he was not satisfied(!) and will keep pushing.
Petter started driving at just 6 years of age. He practiced Dance for 6 full years to build up his strength and endurance. His early experience as a mechanic has made him a well rounded asset to the Subaru World Rally Team.
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Rally driving runs in his blood, as both his parents won regional championships in Norway and even his wife competes successfully. The crowd nearly got hysterical when he mentioned “I rolled four times before I was 18.”
When it comes to rallying, Solberg said, “I love it a lot. It’s all about passion. Kind of like Subaru.”
Petter assists in the development of Subaru’s passenger cars, in fact he has seven different Subarus in his driveway, “the whole range” he mentioned. That includes the 2006 WRX STi, which was also unveiled at Miller Subaru.
The new-look grille is toned down quite a bit from the way it’s presented on the Tribeca, but might still take some getting used to. This is the 3rd look for the current generation Impreza, so it seems like they keep changing the formula a bit.
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The overall look is now even bolder – fender flares, bright paint colors, gold rims, scoops and spoilers are sure to garner attention. Shy drivers need not apply. “Hollywood” impersonators, place yours orders.
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