The 2019 world champion has emerged as key part of the WRC silly season after exercising a clause to end his Hyundai tenure with a year remaining on his contract after a challenging 2022 campaign.
Today’s announcement has ended the speculation surrounding Tanak’s future with the Estonian penning a deal to return to the Ford squad that ignited his WRC career in 2011.
Tanak had been facing an uncertain future following his exit from Hyundai, where he scored three rally wins this year. The 35-year-old told media that a sabbatical from the WRC was among his options for next year, while being linked with returns to both Toyota and M-Sport.
However, this latest chapter of his WRC career will see Tanak lead the British operation that will feature a changed driver line-up after splitting with Craig Breen 12 months into a two-year deal last month. The Irishman, who endured a difficult campaign driving the Ford Puma, has since moved to Hyundai to share the third i20 N with Dani Sordo.
The 17-time WRC rally winner is already looking forward to the prospect of rejoining M-Sport, where he scored his maiden WRC win in 2017, in his last season of his first stint before joining Toyota for a two-season spell and then Hyundai in 2020.
“M-Sport is the place that raised me as a driver and the place that taught me all the hard lessons and experience to become a top level player in the World Rally Championship,” said Tanak, who will once again be partnered by co-driver Martin Jarveoja.
“Since becoming a world champion I have not been able to defend the title, and I will not be able to make peace with myself until I do.
“I have had many discussions with Malcolm and we definitely share the same ambition for the upcoming season. It is going to be a big challenge for us, but I know the people at Dovenby Hall, I know what they are capable of and with their passion to give everything they have, we can challenge for the championship.
“I’m happy to be back at M-Sport Ford World Rally Team and we will give our everything next year.”
Ott Tanak, Martin Jarveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
M-Sport revealed its intentions to sign Tanak earlier this year but admitted that such a move would be dictated by finances.
Now the deal has been successfully completed, team principal Richard Millener has outlined that a tilt at the title is expected from its new signing.
“Seeing Ott back…
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