M-Sport WRC driver Ostberg considering entry for BRC finale
M-Sport World Rally Championship driver Mads Ostberg has been linked to an entry on this year's Rally Isle of Man, the final round of the British Rally Championship
Ostberg is chasing more asphalt mileage this season and has purchased his own Ford Fiesta R5 with an eye to doing more events on his less-favoured surface.
The 2012 Rally of Portugal winner has already added the asphalt Rally Canary Isles into his schedule.
He was leading the opening ERC round of the season before damaging the suspension on the RMC Motorsport Fiesta R5 he was using.
"I'm trying to put a lot of effort in this year to try to improve on [asphalt], that's why I went to Gran Canaria," Ostberg told Autosport.
"I will look to do more and if this place [the Isle of Man] fits the schedule then, why not?"
Ostberg's father Morten - who owns the team that would run Mads' own car - said he was investigating the potential for competing on the Isle of Man.
"Obviously, it's a question of budget, but we want to do tarmac rallies and it feels natural to do them in England," he said.
The dates for the Douglas-based September 15-17 event work for Ostberg, following immediately after the WRC's newest asphalt event, Rally China.
BRC manager Iain Campbell said Ostberg would receive a warm welcome.
"To have interest in the BRC from a driver of Mads' standing is fantastic," he told Autosport.
"It reaffirms the standard of driver the series has attracted this year and also the level of events within our calendar.
"Rally Isle of Man features some of the most three-dimensional asphalt available to rally on: the stages have everything from fast, double-width roads to narrow, bumpy, mountainous sections.
"Hopefully we can look forward welcoming Mads to BRC in September."
Ostberg has competed at a domestic level in Britain before, winning the 2009 Cambrian Rally in a Subaru Impreza WRC.
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