Bebo

Petter Solberg has confirmed he will tackle the next two rounds of the World Rally Championship in his Citroen Xsara WRC, but will test a new car next week.

Solberg clinched the final sponsor needed for him to continue in the WRC last week, when he revealed a new livery for the Xsara including the logos of oil firm Shell.

Despite that deal, the 2003 world champion says he is still not certain to be seen on every one of the six remaining rounds of the championship. Australia and Catalunya are the events he could miss.

"It's very good news to get the extra sponsor confirmed," Solberg told AUTOSPORT. "We will continue to see what happens with the car. We have some new ideas for Greece, but I will also test something else after that rally.

"I can say I will be in the car [Citroen Xsara WRC] for the next two events and we'll see after that. If the test with the other car goes well, then we'll use it in Finland."

Solberg pointed out that shipping costs were the chief reason for potentially skipping Rally Australia's return to the WRC calendar.

"Australia is an expensive rally, but nothing is decided yet," he said. "Spain is the other possible one to miss, because it's asphalt and you need more for an asphalt rally, but let's see. Everything can still happen, but we'll test the car next week and take it from there.

"The good thing is that we're in Greece and we're going to be out a lot more for the rest of the season - but I still want to be fighting at the front."

Petter Solberg has announced a sponsorship deal with oil giant Shell for the rest of the season and 2010 as well.

The deal will commence from the Acropolis Rally onwards and should enable Solberg to contest the remaining WRC rounds this year.

The Shell sponsorship though, could effectively rule Solberg out of the chance to drive for any of the current manufacturer teams in the near future, due to a likely conflict of interests between rival oil companies, with BP backing the Ford teams and Total sponsoring the Citroen ones.

There is still no announcement yet as to whether Solberg will change the Citroen Xsara WRC in the immediate future, though the backing of Shell could open up the possibility of obtaining a more competitive machine.

After scoring his second podium finish of the year on Rally d’Italia, Petter Solberg is once again considering a car swap ahead of the next round in Greece.

The rally in Sardinia was Petter’s first in his upgraded 2006-specification Xsara WRC, and although he said it performed better than the active differential car he has campaigned so far this season, the Norwegian is still after a car with true podium potential.

Solberg completed the rally route in fourth place but was later promoted to third place when Sebastien Loeb was given a two-minute penalty for breaking safety belt regulations. “We were leaving the Service Park for the finish ceremony in Porto Cervo when we were told about the penalty,” said Petter.

“It was good event for me and for the whole team. We have been fast many times, and third place makes up for the one we lost in Argentina. Too bad for Loeb, but there is nothing I can do about that.

“We had a good fight with Sebastien. When I woke up on Sunday morning, I was ready and it was good to be fighting again. We had good first two stages, then we had a problem with the steering after service. I fixed it after the first stage and then we were on the limit on the last two. There was nothing more we could do.”

One thing his could do is get a quicker car. And ahead of another hot rally in Greece next month, Solberg admitted he was still considering this option - with a Peugeot 307 the most likely replacement.

Petter said: "I feel stuck in the corner. I have done a few rallies now and I know where I am. We are going to have this question, me and Phil, and see what we can do for the next rally. It will be the same temperature on the next rally, we have to really think - I don’t want to waste time. I’m having a lot of fun, but now we have to sit down and analyse. I know it’s not possible to push harder in the warm temperatures. I still have a little bit to go