Østberg ready to do battle in ERC with MRF Tyres Dealer Team

The Norwegian driver - who won WRC Rally de Portugal in 2012 and has amassed 18 podiums at the sport’s top level - will undertake his first-ever full ERC campaign driving a Citroën C3 Rally2 prepared by Tagai Racing Technology and supported by MRF Tyres.

Østberg is excited to be a part of the Indian tyre team and believes that his wealth of knowledge and experience will enable him and co-driver Patrik Barth to make a significant impact in the series.

His last ERC start at Rally Hungary two years ago saw him clinch victory in the final stage, and he is hoping to continue that winning trend into 2023.

"The Citroën is a car that I know well, but the new factor is, of course, my partnership with MRF Tyres, which I find really interesting,” Østberg told FIAERC.com. “It’s highly motivating for me to compete with such a motivated brand that has the intentions to do really well, and I hope we can have good success together."

With his sights set firmly on championship glory, the 35-year-old is eager to prove his mettle against the best drivers in Europe.

"Of course, we want to try and win the championship," he said. "I’m really happy to compete in the ERC. I didn’t take part in any big championships last year, but I’m really looking forward to it and I feel really motivated."

Team MRF Tyres representative Vivek Ponnusamy revealed his excitement at having a World Rally winner on his books. He added: “Having Mads join MRF Tyres Dealer Team is a huge honour for us, and we are thrilled to have him on board for the 2023 season.

"His track record in rallying speaks for itself, and we have no doubt that he will be a formidable force on the stages. We are looking forward to working together and building on the huge success we enjoyed as a team in 2022.”