Ott Tänak: “Even hungrier than ever”

Author of a checkered career, but marked by his three consecutive victories between Finland and Turkey last summer, Ott Tänak had played the title Pilots WRC until the Australian final, facing Sébastien Ogier et Thierry Neuville, despite a significant delay in accounting terms.

The new pilot Toyota Gazoo Racing was finally forced to throw in the towel following a mechanical problem, in view of the arrival. Now looking towards the upcoming campaign, which will begin in Rally Monte-Carlo (January 24-27), the Estonian believes he has all the assets in hand to win in 2019.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I grew and adapted to new people and a new car last year, comments Tänak. Everything went fairly smoothly.

After a year together, the relationship is well established, we know what to do and where to go, so I think as a team we are really very strong now.

For 2019 we have enough pressure. Of course, winning the championship is one thing, but maintaining it the following season is always more complicated because everyone wants to beat you.

I know where I stand, I know what to expect and I know what we are capable of. Starting a new season knowing all this allows you to be a little more relaxed, but I know what it will take to achieve our goals.

Being titled is never easy, it will only be one driver at the end of the season who will have this chance. But I know that I am in a good team, surrounded by very competent people and everyone knows what they have to do. I think I'm in the right place to make it happen.

I'm even hungrier than ever, since I narrowly missed the coronation last year. It was possible, but unfortunately we didn't realize it. »

On a field where he has been on the podium twice in the last two seasons (3rd in 2017 with the Ford Fiesta M-Sport, before moving up a rank with the Yaris WRC last year), Ott Tänak will undoubtedly be one of the favorites for the Monte-Carlo Rally, and will be able to count on a car that he now knows by heart.

Quite the opposite of Sébastien Ogier, who will have to continue his adaptation phase to the Citroën C3 WRC. But wasn't it the world champion who won his Ford Fiesta WRC in 2017 in the Principality, with only a few kilometers in testing?