Ott Tänak wins with panache in Sardinia

At the end of a gloomy race, quickly without any challenges, Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja won for the first time with the Hyundai hybrid. This allows them to maintain their tiny title chances while giving a smile to a team that really needed it.

Published on 06/06/2022 à 13:30

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Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja win for the first time with the Hyundai hybrid © Nikos Katikis / DPPI

He had passed very close in Croatia. It only took 4”3 and a sparkling Kalle Rovanperä to break this long wait. It had in fact been sixteen months – and fifteen rallies – sinceOtt Tänak had not reached the top step of a podium in the world championship. The last time this happened in Rovaniemi during the Arctic Rally Finland. This success was surprising, because Toyota was favorite at home, but the Estonian had decided otherwise. The one won in Alghero at the end of the fifth event of the season is perfectly deserved. For the first time in several rounds, Ott appeared above the rest, relentless. However, it was not all easy.

Ott Tänak on fire

While coming very close to victory in Zagreb, the 2019 world champion recorded important information there. After two years of struggling on the asphalt with a reluctant i20, he had just figured out how to use the Korean on this surface. A good omen for the future? On gravel, his performance in Portugal was quickly wiped out by punctures. Despite the hit to morale and the drop in motivation