After a successful test session organised last week, the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team lined up at the start of Rally Finnskog, the second round of the Norwegian championship.

Competing here with the aim of preparing as effectively as possible for the forthcoming Rally Sweden, the DS 3 WRC was entered in ‘World Championship’ configuration with, in particular, WRC-spec Michelin tyres.

As an FIA priority driver, Mads Østberg was first on the road throughout the day. The Norwegian won six out of the seven stages contested to take overall victory by almost a minute in the final standings.

Mads Østberg: “I would like to thank Citroën Racing for having given me the opportunity to take part in Rally Finnskog. It’s the perfect way to prepare for Rally Sweden. We were able to drive on long stages of more than twenty or thirty kilometres, all in the same region as the stages we’ll be tackling on Friday. The conditions were also perfect with excellent weather, a good layer of ice and -10°C in the morning. This rally has helped confirm the good tests we did. Above all, it was important to win. It’s a real confidence boost just a few days before the big event gets underway at Rally Sweden!”