Rally drivers from Norway have participated in Saaremaa Rally several times.
Thomas Schie has won the rally two times (2003 and 2004) and on 2006 won Andreas Mikkelsen. Mads Östberg will start with Subaru Impreza WRC S12. He drove with the same car in Rally Finland, where he came 7th. Östberg has participated in 25 world championship rallies. Best result was in Portugal on 2009 where he became 6th. He is a three time Norwegian champion.

Mads Östeberg: „I have heard a lot of good things about Saarema Rally. The stages seem to be exiting from the pictures and videos I have seen. I´m coming to Saaremaa with a certain plan to win. It will sure be an exciting race with local drivers.“

Georg Gross will defend his last years first place in Ford Focus WRC.

Georg Gross: „The winning of Saaremaa Rally last year was a nice end to my previous season. This year has unfortunately not been so good. My mistakes and technical problems have complicated things. I hope to make a beautiful end to this year also in Saaremaa. Competition will be intensive but that is only good.“

In Saaremaa Rally N-group will start this years Norwegian champion Sveinung Bieltvedt.

One part of 43rd of Saaremaa Rally is an exhibition ”Estonian Motorsport Through Times” in Kuressaare Culture Center. There are displayed old race cars, motorcycles and race gears. Next year Estonian motorsport will be already 90 years old and that exhibition is an introduction to the jubilee year.

The 43rd of Saaremaa Rally will take place on 8-9th of October. It is Estonian Championship final race, FIA NEZ Cup and Baltic Rally final championship race. Race track is 525 km and stages are 115 km.

Additional information: www.saaremaarally.eu Accreditation for journalists: www.autosport.ee/rallyreg

Margus Kiiver