Tänak's top five pleases M-Sport Ford bosses

The Estonian ran as high as third overall on his debut aboard a Ford Puma Rally1, but slipped back to fifth after steering issues slowed progress in the car on the second day. The highlight for Tänak came with four points for second place on the Wolf Power Stage. The #8 car was just six-tenths of a second behind the determined Kalle Rovanperä who took the stage win.

The 2019 world champion was upbeat after his first rally with M-Sport in five years. He said: “Generally, it was a good weekend, we have learnt plenty and got some good mileage as well.”

M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson echoed those sentiments, saying: “Ott’s driven a smart rally. We know we have work to do, but the thing that pleases me is that he’s not coming in telling the team we need more power. A lot of what we have to do is set-up stuff.”

Team manager Rich Millener praised that effort for the third and final run across the Col de Turini.

“The final Power Stage was a great sign of the potential that is to come,” said Millener. “Of course, it would have been nice to have got a podium, but it wasn’t to be. We can be very happy with the feedback and performance we saw here.”

Tänak’s focus now switches to his pre-Sweden test ahead of round two. The Estonian will contest the Otepää Rally in preparation for the Umeå-based event.