Solberg sets early pace

Subaru’s reigning world champion Petter Solberg led after the opening four stages of the inaugural Rally Japan.

The Norwegian was almost 20 seconds clear of Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm, with Citroen’s championship leader Sebastien Loeb in third, followed by Ford’s Markko Martin.

Spain’s Carlos Sainz dropped to fifth place after a promising start.

Solberg, fastest in three of the stages run so far, admitted he was surprised to be ahead at the first service stop and had not expected to be in that position.

He said: “Things have worked out very well – much better than I expected.”