Tänak already found strong pace in the previous WRC round in Greece, where he claimed a brilliant win and ended Toyota’s season-long winning streak.
Estonia’s ultra-fast gravel roads have historically suited Tänak extremely well, making him a clear contender for victory again this weekend. And Tänak knows exactly what winning on home soil would require.
“Obviously, a lot of confidence. It’s the kind of rally where normally you can have quite a bit of mechanical grip, so you can overdrive it. Basically, commitment is what you need,” Tänak said in his preview.
Returning to the WRC calendar after a one-year break, Rally Estonia will run on a slightly different schedule this year compared to previous editions. Still, Tänak is positive about the overall route.
“I mean, the roads can change quite a bit from stage to stage. In the north, compared to the south, they have quite different characteristics. But generally, they’re nice stages,” he commented.
Thanks to his victory in Greece, Tänak has re-entered the championship fight. He currently sits third in the WRC drivers’ standings, trailing Toyota’s Elfyn Evans—the championship leader—by just 12 points heading into the Estonian weekend. Between them is Toyota’s multiple-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, who is not contesting the full season.
“I think nobody is out of the championship fight. It’s still the first part of the year, and we have seven rallies to go. The next event can go completely the opposite way. So I think as long as you’re mathematically in the picture, then everything is possible,” Tänak underlined.
Public opinion strongly favours Tänak as the number one favourite to win in Estonia. However, the Estonian shocked many with his surprisingly bleak outlook on his own chances. Whether it was tactical mind games or a sign of real issues remains unclear.
“I wish [to win], but I don’t think we have much chance. It doesn’t feel like a strong environment,” Tänak admitted unexpectedly.
“I really miss all kinds of connection in the car. It’s obviously very fast here with some jumps, and you really need precision—but everything I need is really missing. I kind of know how you need to attack the corners, but at the moment, it doesn’t seem so easy,” Tänak added with a serious expression.
