Mads Ostberg switches to Ford for 2011

Adapta Motorsport have confirmed a collaboration with M-Sport to support Mads Østberg in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car for next year’s FIA World Rally Championship.

The 23-year-old Norwegian piloted the award-winning Ford Fiesta S2000 with the Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team in France and Germany earlier this year and following his successful debut with M-Sport, Adapta have agreed terms to expand the link with the UK based team.

Sweden’s Jonas Andersson will join Mads Østberg as his co-driver.

More details of the final programme are still to be confirmed but Østberg and Andersson will contest the season’s opening rally in Sweden, 10 – 13 February.

Mads Østberg said: “I enjoyed driving the Ford Fiesta S2000 in France and Germany and I’m very happy to have been given the opportunity to drive the new Fiesta next year. I know the competition is tough for next year’s championship so I feel really lucky to have sorted this deal between M-Sport and Adapta at this stage. I don’t have a lot of experience working with a big team like M-Sport but I found them to be very professional and welcoming. I’m really pleased about the deal and looking forward to next year.”

Adapta Motorsport Team Director, Morten Østberg said: “This is a logical step for Mads to take in 2011 – we had a nice feeling in the Ford Fiesta S2000 after Rallye de France and we are looking to build a collaboration with M-Sport into the future to help develop our team in the Scandinavian market.”

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson said: “It is great to be able to welcome Mads, Jonas and the Adapta team into the M-Sport family for 2011. Mads and Jonas adapted well to the large team environment in Germany and with the new technical regulations coming, we feel the time is right for Mads to make the next step in his development as a driver.”