Norwegian Mads Ostberg will prepare for next month’s Neste Oil Rally Finland by attempting to defend his auto24 Rally Estonia title from 20-21 July.
The Vodafone Rally de Portugal winner will pilot his familiar Ford Fiesta RS WRC alongside regular co-driver Jonas Andersson from Sweden.
It will mark the 24-year-old’s first international appearance since his run to fourth overall on the Acropolis Rally in Greece in late May.
Currently fourth overall in the race for the FIA World Rally Championship, Ostberg said: “Last year we had a very good rally in Estonia, nice roads and good organisation. And we see auto24 Rally Estonia as an important step towards a good result in Neste Oil Rally Finland.”
Ostberg will start Rally Estonia on the back of his victory on the Zero Rally in Norway and neighbouring Sweden recently. The event is for zero or low emission cars - Ostberg and co-driving girlfriend Veronica Engan were competing in a Tesla Roadster.
“We accomplished what we wanted and we are obviously proud and happy with it,” said Ostberg. “It was a challenge for me to hold back but Veronica did a great job as co-driver and this rally was more about that than the driver.”