Last week the 2019 world champion completed a move to rejoin the Ford squad after leaving Hyundai at the end of the season with a year remaining on his contract.
The switch has seen Tanak reunite with the British team that launched his WRC career in 2011. It was at M-Sport where the Estonian claimed a maiden podium in 2012 [Sardinia], and the first of his 17 top-flight wins in 2017.
The 35-year-old has only experienced a brief taste of the M-Sport Ford Puma following an outing at M-Sport’s Greystoke Forest proving ground, but is already confident the team can deliver a package capable of challenging for the title next year.
“Well Toyota and [Kalle] Rovanpera at the moment they are the two to beat and I would say M-Sport is the place to be,” Tanak told Motorsport.com.
“There are people who are really passionate to do it, so I guess this is the place and it should give me the chance to do it.
“I wouldn’t call it unfinished business as we have already won the championship, so the business has been done, but from the other side we have everything we need to challenge for the championship and fight for the title. I would like to give myself the chance to fight for it again.
“Winning a championship is always the ultimate challenge and it is never going to be easy. It means you are the best of the best.
“It would mean everything no question but to do it is not an easy challenge, it is a big job and it needs everything to come together. It is going to be quite some job.”
Ott Tänak, M-Sport
Photo by: M-Sport
Tanak says he has been assured that M-Sport will be able to maintain the development of the Puma to ensure it remains competitive against the factory Toyota and Hyundai teams that boast bigger budgets.
“I’m sure there is the potential,” added Tanak. “The team has a great infrastructure and they have strong support from Ford also, so if we all work together and we really want it badly then we can make everything happen.
“For sure, all the other big manufacturer teams when they get the things rolling they can move very fast and I know from other places that the development rate can be very fast as well. I’m sure we can do it.
“There won’t be any limitation on the development side so that is the most important thing. They [M-Sport] want to prove what they are in this sport so I’m sure it will be an interesting time.
“It is definitely not going to be easy and against the two big teams it is going to be a challenge. I…
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