WRC
What Ott Tänak will miss the most from WRC
Ott Tänak has achieved the highest of highs, winning rallies and an outright WRC title - but it is the thrill of driving Rally1 cars that he will miss the most as he takes a sabbatical next year.
Tänak will step away from full-time rallying next year, forsaking his 2026 seat at Hyundai Motorsport, to reset and spend more time with his young family.
Rally Saudi Arabia marked the Estonian’s last WRC outing, for a while at least. The 38-year-old has stated that he doesn’t plan to cut ties with rallying and is open to a WRC return in the future.
Tänak made his WRC debut at Rally de Portugal in 2009 and since then has amassed 176 starts, 22 wins, 58 podiums and 443 stages wins, driving for M-Sport-Ford, Toyota and Hyundai at the top level. His greatest achievement was undoubtedly a run to the 2019 world title driving for Toyota.
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Tänak is regarded as among the fastest drivers the WRC has ever witnessed, evidenced by the fact he racked up 56 stages wins this year - only four shy of the series' pacesetter and world champion Sébastien Ogier.
Reflecting on what he will miss from the championship, Tänak admitted driving the cars will be hard to replace moving forward.
“These cars are some of the best things in motorsport at the moment, they’re really fun to drive and I’m sure really fun to watch from the outside too. They are fantastic, this I will miss a lot,” said Tänak.
“Let’s see what the future brings. I don’t know how much things are going to change but let’s see what the sport does and where it goes. I’m not turning my back on rallying, it’s given me so much and I’m very grateful for that.
“We have been doing this for 10 to 15 years full-time, so it's been a busy time and I have had the opportunity to chase my dream. I’m very grateful for the team and my family to allow me to do this. It has been a great time.
Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025
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Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025
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Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja, WRC Rally Sweden 2025
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Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja, WRC Rally Sweden 2025
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“I have been in many different teams and I have seen a lot and I have expected a lot. I have met a lot of people. I don’t regret anything and I’m very grateful.
“I have experienced a lot and I have met so many people, and I have victories at every team and every team has been good and bad, but that is the way it is. We are here to have a good life and meet the people and work with them and I think I have been able to work with all the people. I’m very grateful for the whole experience.”
Tänak remains coy regarding his future plans in rallying but revealed his first plan for next year is to switch off and spend time with his family.
“I’m not sure if I will do some local rallies [next year] - I’m not sure what is the case at the moment,” he added. “The first plan is to switch off from the sport and all the work in the background and let’s see what the rest brings, but I have a few holidays planned.”
