Ott Tanak looking forward to break from full-time rallying next year

Rally Saudi Arabia marked Ott Tanak’s final outing with Hyundai after the 2019 world champion announced plans to take a sabbatical earlier this month to reset and spend more time with his family.

Tanak had been in the victory hunt in Saudi Arabia before a series of punctures on Friday ended any hopes of a podium to sign off his time in the WRC.

While the 38-year-old has stated that he doesn’t plan to cut ties with rallying and is open to a WRC return in the future, he is grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to become one of the championship’s superstar drivers.

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During a career that began in 2009, Tanak has driven for M-Sport-Ford, Toyota and Hyundai at the top level, with his greatest achievement being his run to the 2019 world title with Toyota.

Reflecting on a successful career to date that includes 22 wins, 58 podiums and 439 stage wins, Tanak said: “We have been doing this for 10-15 years full-time so it’s been a busy time, and I have had the opportunity to chase my dream. I’m very grateful for the team and my family to allow me to do this. It has been a great time.

“It has been an interesting time and I’m grateful for everything I have done. I have been in many different teams, and I have seen a lot, and I have expected a lot. I have met a lot of people. I don’t regret anything and I’m very grateful.

“I have victories at every team, and every team has been good and bad but that is the way it is. We are here to have a good life and meet the people and work with them and I think I have been able to work with all the people. I’m very grateful for the whole experience.

“I definitely dreamed [about having a career and winning the WRC title] but I did not imagine [it would be possible].”

Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team

Tanak is already looking forward to switching off from motorsport for a while and enjoying some respite from an intense WRC season – as well as a testing schedule that offers little opportunity to take breaks.

“Generally, with the seasons [and how they work], it is definitely the worst sport you can have," he added. "You just go all around and there is never a break. The calendar is crazy stupid, and you don't have a single break in the year and you go like this for 15 years and that is where you are.

"I’m not sure if I will do some local rallies [next year], I’m not sure what is the case at the moment. The first plan is to switch off from the sport and all the work in the background, and let’s see what the rest brings. But I have a few holidays planned.”

The WRC is about to make a significant transition over the next two years, with a new commercial rights holder arriving next year ahead of a change in technical regulations in 2027.

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When asked if these changes could help persuade him to come back to the WRC full-time in the future, he added: “Actually this is something I am quite worried about. The cars have been the only good thing about the sport at the moment, and we are changing something that is easy to change but we are not working on something that takes effort to do.

“I think the promotion would make a much bigger change for the sport than changing the technical regulations. Let’s see, it is not my problem and I can follow it from the outside.”

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