Mads Østberg’s participation in the European Rally Championship has been put on hold until his co-driver, Patrik Barth, fully recovers from their accident during Rally di Roma Capitale last month. The incident occurred when the Norwegian and Swedish duo ran off the road and collided with an unprotected tree on Barth’s side of the car. Østberg sustained broken ribs, while Barth required surgery for a broken jaw, as well as injuries to his hip, arm, and ribs.
Østberg explained that he was unable to obtain clearance from his doctors to compete in the upcoming Zlín event. He emphasized the importance of having proper insurance coverage and expressed his desire to fully recover before returning to racing alongside Barth. The duo’s hopes of contending for the championship have been dashed due to their absence from the first round in Hungary and the accident in Rome.
Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Østberg acknowledged the strong bond he shares with Barth, describing him as one of his closest friends. He expressed his commitment to supporting Barth’s recovery and emphasized the significance of their friendship in their decision-making process. While performing well and satisfying their partners are important, Østberg stressed that their primary goal is to enjoy the sport together. He acknowledged that, at this stage in his career, he is not driven by the same ambitions he had as an 18-year-old aspiring factory driver in the World Rally Championship.
Regarding Barth’s potential return to competition, Østberg stated that it is still too early to determine when he will be fit enough to compete. However, their dream is to make a comeback for the final ERC round in Poland. They are also considering participating in some smaller rallies before that, depending on Barth’s recovery timeline.
Østberg also revealed that he is collaborating with the FIA to investigate the causes of their accident in Rome. He emphasized the importance of learning from accidents to drive improvement. While he expressed gratitude for the medical response and the effectiveness of the car’s SOS system, Østberg acknowledged that there were factors contributing to the accident that should not have occurred. He intends to address these issues with the FIA, but refrained from sharing specific details at this time. Østberg emphasized the need to create a report with video evidence and pictures to prevent similar incidents in the future, as the accident seemed unusual and avoidable. His intention is not to blame anyone, but rather to ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences.
Photo from Mads Østberg (X) Account
