Ott Tänak and M-Sport have made an agreement for next year.
13:31•Updated 13:55
M-Sport informs that Ott Tänak returns to his old team in the World Rally Championship. M-Sport, which competes with Ford cars, said on Twitter that Tänak and M-Sport have made an agreement for next season.
Tänak drove the previous three seasons for Hyundai after winning the finisher’s championship in 2019 behind the wheel of Toyota.
Tänak came to Toyota from M-Sport, where he started his career in the World Rally Championship in 2011. Tänak also took his first race win with M-Sport in 2016. At his best with M-Sport, the Estonian was third in the drivers’ championship in 2017.
– M-Sport is the place where I grew up as a driver. There I went through all the hard lessons and gained experience so that I could be a top-level driver in the World Series. I haven’t been able to defend the world title since I won it once. I won’t be with myself until I can do it again, Tänak commented in M-Sport’s press release.
Tänak finished second to Toyota in the World Rally Championship last year Kalle Rovanperän after. The Estonian criticized Hyundai’s car a lot during the season.
Tänak announced in November after the World Rally Championship in Catalonia that he would no longer continue with Hyundai. At that time, Tänak said that he felt that he was at such a stage in his career that he needed a new challenge.
After the World Rally Championship in Japan, which ended the season, Tänak commented that he did not have a contract with any team at that point.
The Estonian star commented in M-Sport’s press release that he has discussed the team’s founder by Malcolm Wilson with and both now want to apply for the championship for M-Sport.
– After Otti’s first feedback, I am confident that we will be able to fight for the world championship in 2023. Otti’s feeling for a couple of days at our factory has highlighted for us the level needed to win the championship, Wilson stated in the press release.
Today’s departure from Hyundai also started the driver roulette for next season’s teams. Esapekka Lappi switched from Toyota to Hyundai. In addition to Lapland, Hyundai drives for a full season Thierry Neuville. The third car will be distributed during the season Dani Sordo and last season drove with M-Sport Craig Breen.
They drive Toyota for the full season Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans. Takamoto Katsuta and Sebastien Ogier share a third car.
M-Sport has not yet announced its drivers for next season other than Tänak.