Østberg starts 2011 rally season on a high

M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team’s Mads Østberg got his 2011 season off to a flying start finishing first in class and second overall at this weekend’s Sigdals Rally.

The 23-year-old Norwegian piloted a Ford Fiesta S2000 alongside experienced Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson at the Norwegian Rally Championship’s opening round.

There was a host of stiff competition at the popular season opener including Anders Grøndal and Eyvind Brynildsen. Despite a difficult start for Østberg who lost approximately 40 seconds when another car blocked the road, the Norwegian pilot demonstrated impressive pace over the course of the rally.

Østberg produced two quickest stage times during the final two stages and his strong performance over the weekend secured him a class win and a second place finish.

“The car was going very nicely over the weekend and without any problems. The set up was great throughout the rally and I’m delighted that the first rally of the season went so smoothly”, he said. “I’m really looking forward to Rally Sweden next month and hope we can finish with another strong result.”

Sigdals Rally has been a promising start for the Scandinavian pairing as they prepare for the 2011 WRC season opener next month in Sweden where the duo will pilot a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car on behalf of the M-Sport Stobart Ford World Rally Team.
Mads Østberg said: