WRC winner Ostberg to make RX debut in electric Citroen

Ostberg, whose sole outright World Rally Championship victory came on Rally Portugal in 2012, has been contesting the WRC-2 division with Citroen this year and won both the two season-opening events in Monte Carlo and Sweden in a works C3 R5.

The Norwegian will drive a Citroen C3 ERX, developed by Manfred Stohl's STARD concern using the French marque's C3 R5 rolling chassis, mated to the 'Revelution' 450kW electric powertrain used by all cars in Projekt E and also developed by Stohl's company.

While Ostberg has never competed in a rallycross event, he conducted demonstration laps in a Subaru Impreza WRC at his home round of the European Rallycross Championship at Momarken almost 15 years ago, and at the end of 2018 tested ES Motorsport's World RX-specification Skoda Fabia at Mettet in Belgium.

"It's a really nice opportunity for me to take part in this project in Holjes," said Ostberg.

"For sure everything will be brand new to me, the car, the track and I've never competed in rallycross before so I think it will be an amazing experience.

"To drive this car was so much fun already, it's so powerful and so enjoyable.

"It will be really, really amazing to finally compete in rallycross. I'm loving to do it in the electric Citroen C3 ERX."

Ostberg is understood to have worked with STARD on the development of the powertrain used in the C3 ERX.

"Mads is one of the most talented drivers in the world of rallying, and he has been right at the front for many years now," said STARD CEO Michael Sakowicz.

"He has a huge amount of experience working with manufacturer teams at a very high level and it has been very helpful to have his input and validation into our world-wide unique STARD Revelution powertrain."

The entry list for the first Projekt E event later this month is yet to be confirmed, but former rally driver Natalie Barratt has signed up to race a Ford Fiesta ERX in the full season, while Ken Block will also make his return to the World RX scene in another Fiesta.

The first team to have bought an electric rallycross car, Holten Motorsport, is yet to announce its driver, which could be experienced rallycross campaigner and European Championship podium-finisher Daniel Holten.