Tänak: “Finland was a perfect fit for Toyota”

Ott Tänak could finally hang the Rally de Finlande à son palmarès. Après s’être emparé des commandes de l’épreuve dans la première étape, le pilote Toyota a enchaîné les scratchs (12 sur les 23 ES) pour se créer une avance confortable sur Mads Ostberg (Citroën) pour signer son second succès de la saison après l’Argentine, avec en prime les points bonus de la Power Stage.

“It couldn’t be more perfect. Finland really suited Toyota, recognized the winner. The first step was really difficult for me. We still had to clean the road quite a bit, the surface was dusty and loose. I was really on the attack on Friday, giving my all to each special. I stalled in a corner, which cost me a little time, but it was my only real mistake. We were able to control the gap on Saturday and collect the 5 bonus points from the Power Stage. »

Ott Tänak was only troubled by minor steering issues on day two, but the Estonian was able to maintain a strong pace to hold Mads Ostberg's Citroën to half a minute.

“I knew what was happening. explained the Estonian. I landed sideways on the landing of a jump and had to bend the steering column and then had difficulty turning in one direction. I could progress in sliding in the same way on Martin's side (Järveoja, his co-pilot), but it was more complicated on my side. It was a bit boring, but we were able to improve that and finish the loop at a good pace. we still had to remain very careful when it was very rough, but I really didn't have any complaints about the car. »

Ott Tänak also had the satisfaction of being the first Estonian since his mentor Markko Märtin in 2003 to win at Rally Finland. The Toyota driver by many spectators who came to support him.

“It’s incredible to win the same rally as Markko. This is the first time I managed to do something he had already done. He was my mentor and my friend. I had to attack for that and for the Estonian public. I think I had the same pressure as Jari(-Matti Latvala) and (Esapekka) Lappi and I had no other options than to aim for victory”, he confirmed.

Although Ott Tänak has consolidated his 3rd place in the Championship, he still remains 46 points behind the leader Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) qui n’a pu prendre que la 9e place ce week-end en ouvrant la route lors de la première journée.

“We are still quite far away and there is no point in dreaming of the title. We have to approach each rally one after the other, trying to do our best to get closer. We will see at the end of the season whether it will be possible or not.”, replied the four-time winner in WRC.

Discover the analysis of the Rally of Finland carried out by our special correspondent in issue 2176 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.