Tänak's WRC 2 delight in Poland
Ott Tänak secures victory in the support category at Rally Poland
Ott warms up for Finland with Estonia victory
WRC 2 frontrunner Ott Tänak warmed up for Neste Oil Rally Finland (31 July - 3 August) in perfect fashion by scoring an emphatic victory at Rally Estonia at the weekend.
Tänak, who won WRC 2 at the previous round in Poland, led the two-day event from start to finish in a Ford Fiesta R5. He was fastest over 11 of the 15 ultra-fast gravel special stages to win by 47.1sec.
The 26-year-old Estonian’s success came five years after MM Motorsport team boss and ex-Ford WRC driver Markko Märtin won the rally.
Tänak, whose Polish success for the Drive DMACK World Rally Team ended a disappointing start to the season, overcame several minor technical issues to step up his preparations for the WRC’s fastest round in Finland.
“Everything went really well and it was the perfect result for us,” he said. “We managed to do a good pace all rally. We got a good lead after Friday so Saturday was all about trying to enjoy and stay concentrated. The DMACK tyres were ideal and it gives us a lot of confidence going to Rally Finland where the surface is similar.”
Several other WRC 2 drivers used the rally for Finland preparations.
Karl Kruuda finished sixth in a Peugeot 208 T16 after an opening leg power problem dropped him from podium contention, while Sébastien Chardonnet was ninth in a Citroen DS3 R5.
Martin Kangur was fastest in qualifying but crashed his Fiesta S2000 heavily in SS2.
Also in action was Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy leader Sander Pärn who overcame illness to win the two-wheel drive category in a Fiesta R2. Fellow Trophy contestant Max Vatanen was fourth.
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