What was behind Tanak’s Saturday Monte Carlo blitz?

January 26, 2025

in Racing

Reading Time: 3 mins read

Hyundai staff principal Cyril Abiteboul believes Ott Tanak’s excellent Saturday afternoon on the opening spherical of the brand new World Rally Championship season was right down to the mix of a “deep look” into his method and the proper tyre technique.

Sebastien Ogier leads Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans by 20.3 seconds heading into Sunday’s operating, with Tanak 6.7 seconds additional again in fourth, surging into the reckoning for a podium in Monte Carlo by main each stage within the afternoon loop.

The efficiency got here off the again of a Friday that noticed Tanak rip the rear bodywork off his Hyundai, recovering to make sure he remained within the hunt.

Requested what the staff had achieved to Tanak’s automobile after Saturday’s morning loop, Abiteboul instructed Motorsport.com that the tempo was extra right down to a change of method and tyre selection as drivers get used to the brand new Hankook compounds.

“I don’t assume now we have achieved something to the automobile. He’s not going to love what I’m going to say however what now we have achieved and what he has achieved is a deep look inside himself and his method of rally weekends,” stated Abiteboul.

“It’s too early to attract any conclusions however the truth that he’s now taking the time to construct up set-ups, assured and understanding to know precisely when to assault and when to lose a bit and when to again off and to play the lengthy recreation. That is good to see.

“We’ve achieved an evaluation of final 12 months as we all the time do and seen the place we missed out as a staff with sure errors and with the third automobile however we additionally know there have been a number of events the place Ott in all probability misplaced some alternatives and it’s optimistic to see a change of method and likewise within the communication it’s all optimistic.

“I feel his time within the center stage was a mix of a unique method and the suitable tyre name. It reveals that he’s a driver that wishes to go massive to get a giant [reward].”

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Crew Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photograph by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

Struggle for rally victory “nonetheless on”

Ogier’s lead places him in a commanding place as he searches for a record-extending tenth Monte Carlo victory, however with Evans nonetheless within the hunt with Tanak and third-placed Adrian Fourmaux – on his Hyundai debut – Abiteboul has insisted the race for total honours stays potential.

However warning a win should not jeopardise championship endeavours, he defined: “It [the fight] remains to be on however let’s not get the goal unsuitable.

“The primary goal is to finish this rally with two automobiles minimal in good positions and to have the utmost factors from Monte Carlo. Let’s not attempt to win this rally at any value, that will be unsuitable at this level of the championship.”

Ogier agreed that the rally was removed from sewn up, telling Motorsport.com: “The battle remains to be on however I feel we managed the day fairly nicely.

“We managed to extend the lead slightly bit, the hole went in a very good path. I take that as a optimistic day. It has been difficult situations beginning final of the Rally1 automobiles, the highway was not in our favour however we managed to remain out of hassle.

“Three levels to go tomorrow and they’re difficult ones, so let’s see. It received’t be simple as much as the top.”

Crew-mate Evans added: “It’s all pretty open. Seb is clearly going to be tough to beat if the whole lot goes to plan.

“He’s going to be tough to beat, no query. However the guys round us are solely a handful of seconds behind so that’s nothing actually on this rally.”