Mads
is the
man for
Malcolm

Ostberg claimed his maiden WRC victory and finished fourth in the 2012 drivers’ standings in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car built by M-Sport.

Although UK-based M-Sport is searching for backers to make up the shortfall it’s facing following Ford’s decision to withdraw its sponsorship of the squad after a 16-year association, Wilson is actively looking to finalise his driver line-up, particularly in the wake of Jari-Matti Latvala’s defection to Volkswagen and Petter Solberg’s insistence that he won’t pay to drive in 2013.

“We’re pretty confident of seeing Mads in a Fiesta next year,” Wilson told Autosport. “He’s always been a driver on my radar and he would certainly fit the bill as a team leader for us. He’s done a great job this year and for sure we’re looking at ways to retain him in the future.”

Ostberg is also being targeted by Prodrive for a ride in 2013. The company’s Richard Taylor said: “we have been very, very impressed with the way his pace has improved this year - it’s nothing short of sensational.”