Petter Solberg won his first ever round of the World Championship today by completing a stylish victory in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.
The 27-year-old Norwegian triumphed by 24.4 seconds in his Subaru from Estonia's Markko Martin, the overnight leader, driving a Ford.
Solberg, whose previous best placings had been second in Greece and Argentina, was fastest on three of today's four stages.
Carlos Sainz was third on what could be his last drive for Ford, who provided four of the first six cars. They and Subaru locked out the top six positions, with Solberg's team-mate Tommi Makinen fourth.
British duo Colin McRae and Mark Higgins, also representing Ford, finished fifth and sixth, but last year's world champion Richard Burns crashed out on the penultimate stage when in third place.
PA