Solberg: We should be grateful 'roo wasn't moving.

Despite the disappointment of being crashed out of the lead of Rally Australia by the indigenous wildlife, Petter Solberg and co-driver Phil Mills were counting their blessings that the collision with an errant kangaroo had not had more serious consequences.

The Norwegian was holding a 50-second lead over Citroen's Francois Duval at the time of the incident on SS13, Bannister Central, but the impact was enough to cause extensive damage to the Subaru's cooling system, smashing its radiator, fan and oil cooler. Although the engine immediately began to lose fluid, Solberg was able to get the car across the finish line - and with the tenth best time for the 17.85km stage - but the extreme heat build-up damaged the unit irreparably, causing the Norwegian to retire on the spot.

"I feel a bit like I did after our retirement in Japan," Solberg admitted, "Everything was going perfectly, the car was just right, we had the speed and then something just came out of the blue. Obviously I'm terribly disappointed for Subaru and the whole team, they deserved this win. I sincerely hope we've used up all our bad luck now."

While considering his misfortune to find the 'roo at just the wrong point in the road while travelling flat-out in sixth gear, Solberg admitted that perhaps he had had some 'good' luck in not meeting it in full flight.

"I suppose I should be glad that the kangaroo was hunched down when we hit," he reasoned, "If it had been up in the air then, at 190kph, I think it would have been through the screen.

"Up to that point, things had been going perfectly. I wasn't pushing hard at all - there was no need for a big attack - but, when you're on a long straight, you always go flat out, and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. It's incredible really, we didn't see a single [kangaroo] on the recce, and yet this happens today."

With Marcus Gronholm having elected not to restart after retiring on day one of the event, he and Solberg remain tied for second place in the championship.

"It is some consolation, I suppose, that we have the silver medal in the drivers' championship this year - that's still a good result for all of us," the Norwegian reflected, "But we'll be back next year looking to set the record straight."