Mads Østberg was crowned Norwegian Rally Champion for the second consecutive time on Saturday. He won the 7th and last round of the championship, Rally Hedemarken.

Rally Hedemarken took place in the same area as the WRC event, Rally Norway in 2007. The start, finish and service area was outside the Vikingskipet in the city of Hamar, and some of the six gravel stages were parts of some of the stages in the World Rally in 2007.

Mads Østberg and his codriver Ole Kr. Unnerud had a bad start of the rally, loosing their front brakes on the very first stage. He lost 21 seconds to the leader, Anders Grøndal in a 2004-spec Subaru Impreza WRC on the three first stages. Andreas Mikkelsen was 2nd in his Ford Focus WRC after those three first stages, 4,3 seconds behind Grøndal.

Østberg got his brakes repaired at the service, and said: “If I can loose 21 seconds on the first three stages, and can gain 21 on the last three”. 

He did not only gain 21, at the finish he was 10 seconds ahead of Grøndal. Andreas Mikkelsen was third, 13,5 seconds behind Grøndal.

In the championship Østberg and Mikkelsen both scores 174 points. They were then separated by the results of the last round. With his win in Hamar Østberg was the champion. Anders Grøndal was third with 123 points.

In the group N category the Mitsubishi driver Martin Stenshorne took his third consecutive title.

In the 2wd category Trond G. Svenkerud was champion with his Gr. N Renault Clio Ragnotti.

Top 5 Rally Hedemarken
1. Mads Østberg/Ole Kristian Unnerud, Subaru Impreza WRC, 47min 7,1sec
2. Anders Grøndal/Maria Andersson, Subaru Impreza WRC, +10,0sec
3. Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene, Ford Focus WRC, +23,5
4. Morten Østberg/Christian Østberg, Subaru Impreza WRC, +1min 46,1sec
5. Eyvind Brynildsen/Veronica Engan, Mitsubishi (Gr. N), +1.51,1

Final championship standings

Gr. A 4WD over 2000 ccm
1. Mads Østberg Subaru Impreza WRC 174
2. Andreas Mikkelsen Ford Focus WRC 174
3. Anders Grøndal Subaru Impreza WRC 123

Gr. N 4WD over 2000 ccm
1. Martin Stenshorne Mitsubishi Evo 9 166
2. Sveinung Bieltvedt Subaru Impreza 154
3. Anders Kjær Subaru Impreza 84

2WD to 2000 ccm
1. Trond G. Svenkerud Renault Clio 161
2. Jo Inge Bakken Ford Fiesta, 121
3. Peder Økseter Ford Fiesta, 114

Co-drivers
1. Ola Fløene 184
2. Ole Kr. Unnerud 177
3. Ove Johnny Andersen 135