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Mads Ostberg says Citroen WRC switch will help him fulfil potential

Mads Ostberg says he feels ready to fulfil his World Rally Championship potential with the Citroen team following his move from M-Sport

Ostberg, who tested the car for the first time early in December, said he was surprised at the significant differences both in the set-up of the DS3 compared with the Ford Fiesta and with the way the two teams operated.

"It is a real honour to be part of this great group of people. This is the place that I feel I can fulfil my potential," he said.

"I definitely have a good feeling from the car.

"Everything is different from what I have seen previously, in terms of the team set-up, the way they work, all the details and the knowledge.

"Also the car is totally different. The DS3 is so well balanced and so stable; the engine works different, it has more torque than I had before.

"Definitely I drove the Fiesta differently [to driving the DS3]. With this car you have a different approach and you do things a different way, but it felt really natural - that just sort of happened quite quickly.

"When we sat in the car everything just turned out differently [to what] I maybe expected, but in a quite positive and good way."

Ostberg admits he has been amazed at the response to his switch to Citroen.

The Norwegian ended a a long association with British teams Prodrive and M-Sport when he signed to join the Parisian squad.

"The reaction in Norway has been amazing," he said.

"I think everyone expected me to continue in the same team and everyone was aware I had an offer from M-Sport to continue so I think everyone was a bit amazed.

"But for me I understood quite quickly that this is what I want to do and I said early on in the season that if I had the opportunity to do it I would do it, and luckily I had the chance."

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