Ott Tänak ambitious for 2023: “We can fight for the championship”

The 2019 world champion will therefore experience his 3^e team in 4 years later Toyota in 2019, Hyundai between 2020 and 2022 and M-Sport in 2023. For the Baltic, it is a return. “ M-Sport is the place that raised me as a driver, explained the 35-year-old pilot who even found a smile again. This is the place where I learned all the hard lessons and gained the experience to become a top player in the WRC. » The Estonian actually operated a Fiesta WRC for 5 seasons in the world, recording 11 podiums and above all his first two successes at this level (Sardinia and Deutschland 2017). No longer wanting to be in the shadow of Sébastien Ogier, he left M-Sport to play under the colors of Toyota Gazoo Racing from 2018.

In 2017, Ott Tänak had achieved his first WRC success in Sardinia. Next year, he will still be accompanied by Martin Järveoja (Photo: M-Sport)

If he then managed to be crowned among the Drivers in 2019, his career began to slip when he joined Hyundai. “ Since I became world champion, he declares, I haven't been able to defend my title and I won't be able to make peace with myself until I do! » It is with this objective in mind that he is now rejoining the ranks of M-Sport: “ I had many discussions with Malcolm (Wilson, Editor’s note), he continues. We certainly share the same ambition for the coming season. It will be a big challenge for us, but I know the people at Dovenby Hall. I know what they are capable of and with their passion to give everything they have, we can fight for the title. I'm happy to be back with M-Sport and we'll give it our all next year! » As is logically the case at the time of this type of news, everyone is delighted with this announcement and in particular Richard Millener. “ Seeing Ott return to the M-Sport suit will be a big moment for everyone at Dovenby Hall, enthuses the team manager. The goal for 2023 is clear for us and for Ott: to win the Drivers' Championship. Achieving this goal together will take a lot of work and energy, but we are prepared and ready to take on this challenge. Having someone like Ott on board is essential to raise the spirits and desires of the team to realize our full potential and move forward in 2023. We have gained a lot of experience with the Puma in 2022, we know the strengths of the car and we are convinced that Ott is the right person to drive it to achieve the results we know we deserve. »

Smile found Ott Tänak was able to speak with Richard Millener (in gray) and Chris Williams (right) the technical director (Photo: M-Sport)