Ostberg back in action following back scare

Mads Ostberg has been given the all clear by medics to defend his Rally Estonia title this weekend.

The rapid Norwegian was a doubt for the high-speed gravel event, which he was using as preparation for next month’s Neste Oil Rally Finland, after hurting his back in a shakedown crash on Rally Bohemia last week.

Although the 24-year-old revealed the discovery of two old back injuries following tests in his homeland this week, he has been allowed to take part in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC he will share with co-driver Jonas Andersson from Sweden.

“I have two fractions in my back, but they are not from this accident,” Ostberg told his personal website, www.madostberg.no. “I will be in Otepaa this weekend and I’m looking forward to Rally Estonia. My back is still there, the pain is almost gone so we will be perfect for some rallying.”

Ostberg will go up against fellow FIA World Rally Championship runners Thierry Neuville (Citroen DS3 WRC) and Martin Prokop (Fiesta) in Estonia. Super 2000 World Rally Championship ace Yazeed Al-Rajhi will also be competing in a Fiesta Regional Rally Car.