Season report: Mads Ostberg
Norwegian ended fifth in the title standings
Østberg stays at Citroen for 2015
Mads Østberg has retained his seat at Citroen for a full 13-round programme in next season’s FIA World Rally Championship.
Although the Norwegian finished fifth in the 2014 standings in his first year with the French squad, question marks arose over whether he had done enough to secure a new contract alongside lead driver Kris Meeke.
But Østberg said he had learned a lot and improved as a driver during the season.
“With the DS 3 WRC, I had to adjust my driving style. The work I put in has enabled me to discover new techniques, and they helped me get to grips with certain surfaces and conditions more easily. I’ll be using this experience to go even further in 2015.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the upgrades that have been made on the DS 3 WRC. Thanks to the work done last year and the developments we’re testing and confirming this winter, I want to be able to fight to win rallies as often as possible,” he added.
Citroen team principal Yves Matton said keeping a stable line-up would help the team reap the rewards of 2014’s work.
“At 27-years-old, Mads Østberg is now one of the most experienced drivers in the WRC. His first season in the DS 3 WRC allowed us to assess his potential.
“Mads produced some strong performances, despite being rather unlucky at times during the year. Having scored 108 points, his fifth place in the drivers’ championship reflects his investment.
“He’ll be able to build on his first season in the DS 3 WRC and will be beginning 2015 already perfectly familiar with the team and the car,” he said.
Although Østberg will compete in the season-opening Rallye Monte Carlo (22 - 25 January), he will not be part of Citroen’s scoring line-up. Returning nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb will be nominated alongside Meeke.
