Tänak claimed the first World Championship title of his career in 2019 with Toyota but announced even before the end of the season that he would be switching teams. In 2020, Tänak represented Hyundai.
That move from Toyota to Hyundai six years ago was a massive shock. Why did Tänak want to leave a winning car, and what were the reasons behind the transfer? Since then, it has been no secret that Tänak’s relationship with then-Toyota team principal Tommi Mäkinen was far from ideal.
His first stint with Hyundai did not bring Tänak a second world title. Between 2020 and 2022, he achieved one silver and one bronze with Hyundai before growing tired of the Korean manufacturer and joining the M-Sport Ford team for the 2023 season. However, he didn’t find happiness there either and returned to Hyundai last season.
This week, Kalle Rovanperä shocked the rally world by announcing the end of his career. This could open up a top seat at Toyota – if the team feels it needs one. Oliver Solberg already has a strong foothold for next season with Toyota. It’s also unlikely the team would want to completely waste the time and money invested in Sami Pajari. If Sébastien Ogier were to win yet another championship, the Frenchman might finally restrict himself to a truly limited programme – or stop altogether.
But what about Elfyn Evans? It’s hard to imagine the Welshman at Hyundai, yet a move back to M-Sport Ford makes little sense either, given how the team’s machinery lags behind the factory outfits. Unless, of course, Tänak pulls off another shock move and returns to Toyota after a six-year absence.
Tänak himself told DirtFish on Saturday that he sees no possibility of going back to Toyota.
“I think, if you look big picture and see the line-up Toyota has, [there has] been no need from there side to look anywhere else. I guess it’s pretty obvious how it will go and [how] the line-up [is] to be,” Tänak said.
“They are very, very well covered and I don’t see any discussions on these topics.”
Believe it or not. Tänak may well be sincere, but in today’s rally world no driver openly discusses their contract situations. Everything is kept tightly under wraps, and news is always announced by the teams themselves. In the 2020s, it has become rare to extract major stories from drivers’ comments.
And even if Solberg were to join Toyota’s main team, why couldn’t there also be a place for Tänak? Stranger things have happened in the WRC paddock. It has been particularly evident again this year that Tänak is struggling too much with Hyundai. The results aren’t coming, the technical issues are too frequent, and frustration leads to mistakes of his own.
But what if, after all? Ott Tänak, a Toyota driver in 2026. A second career title – and retirement alongside Kalle. That doesn’t even sound impossible, does it?
