But he proved in 2002 that his time has already come.

The Norwegian won his first world rally with a superb drive in Britain right at the end of the year, a result that clinched him second place in the world championship.

The win came at the end of a strong season, in which he scored points in every rally he finished and took three third places - in Finland, San Remo and Australia.

Perhaps even more impressively, Solberg was Subaru's most convincing performer for much of the season.

And when your team-mate is four-time world champion Tommi Makinen, that is quite some achievement.

Solberg broke onto the WRC scene with Ford in 1999, only to be poached by Subaru for 2000.

And after a couple of seasons where Solberg appeared to be finding his limits by exceeding them, he has driven in 2002 like a future world champion.