Ostberg lacking funds for full WRC bid

Mads Ostberg has told Wrc.com that he only has guaranteed funds in place to contest the next world championship qualifier in Finland - and could be forced to sit out the remainder of the campaign unless more sponsorship can be found.

Ostberg has impressed during what was supposed to be a full programme of WRC events at the wheel of an M-Sport Stobart Ford Fiesta. After seven rounds, the Norwegian is sixth in the drivers’ standings with second on Rally Sweden in February his best result.

However, efforts to supplement his budget to take in a full roster of rallies have so far proved unsuccessful to the extent Ostberg has confirmed that he will not be taking part on Rally Australia in September.

“We are good for Finland and I think Germany also but after that there’s nothing confirmed, not even [Wales Rally] GB, which is a shame,” said the 23-year-old during the Acropolis Rally last week, where he failed to score points after a mechanical failure put him out of the running on the opening day of the event.

With Neste Oil Rally Finland potentially pivotal in determining Ostberg’s programme for the rest of the season, the multiple Norwegian champion is planning an entry on the non-championship Rally Estonia, which runs two weeks before the Jyvaskyla-based competition and uses similar high-speed and undulating gravel roads.

“We are doing Estonia definitely but I don’t know if we are doing it with [my Ford Fiesta RS WRC] or my Super 2000 [version],” said Ostberg. “Hopefully we’ll did it with the World Rally Car because I really want to do some testing and get some more time in the car. It helps to come to a rally feeling prepared and the rally has good similarity to Finland. But as always you have to drive with what you have.”