Ott Tanak has refused to rule out a return to the World Rally Championship with Toyota subsequent yr, however admits that “for the second there isn’t a plan.”
The 2019 world champion has been absent from the WRC this yr after asserting plans to step away from the championship on the finish of 2025.
Nevertheless, in latest months Tanak has returned to the wheel, becoming a member of Toyota as a take a look at driver to assist the producer develop its all-new 2027 WRC automobile for subsequent season.
The function included a return to the levels this weekend, with Tanak and co-driver Martin Jarvoeja driving a typical Toyota GR Rally Rally2 automobile non-competitively on the Rally di Roma Capitale spherical of the European Rally Championship.
Tanak and Jarveoja drove what is called a 0-B automobile on the occasion which is successfully an illustration automobile that runs between the double zero and official zero automobiles and permits organisers to function chosen drivers for promotional functions with out them competing in opposition to the clock.
Toyota selected to deploy Tanak on the rally to assemble data of Rome’s asphalt levels, with the rally anticipated to step up from the ERC and host Italy’s spherical of the WRC subsequent season, changing Sardinia’s gravel levels.
Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Hyundai Motorsport
When requested if there was an opportunity he would function both within the WRC or with Toyota subsequent yr, Tanak informed Rally Dreamer TV: “By no means say by no means to be sincere, however for the second there isn’t a plan.”
After finishing Saturday’s all-new itinerary in Rome, Tanak was impressed by the levels and believes they’re of the standard required for the WRC.
“They had been surprisingly demanding levels on Saturday. There may be numerous damaged tarmac and they’re fairly soiled. It’s difficult however they’re good levels,” he informed Rallylink.it.
“I believe the fabric is there [for the WRC] and the levels are demanding sufficient as effectively, so the potential is there.”
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