Tänak welcomes Ogier's challenge

The Estonian says the current championship leader should maintain a current busy schedule which takes Ogier to this month’s Croatia Rally (20 - 23 April), meaning he’s started six of the last seven rounds.

Tänak said: “I guess he’s done [almost] every rally since the end of last year, he’s always been there. Okay, he was probably clever to miss Sweden to have a good road position in Mexico. I guess he never left!”

Tänak, who shared the M-Sport Ford team with Ogier in 2017, said the Frenchman’s presence in the WRC provided a great storyline.

He added: “For me, if he’s going to stay [in the WRC], it’s the best for the championship and for rallying itself. I would welcome to have him around and to clean the road for us as well!”

Despite his friend and rival’s request, Ogier wouldn’t budge. Talking after winning Guanajuato Rally Mexico and moving to the top of the table, he said: “I am here to have fun and to give the team as many points as possible. That doesn’t change.”

While Ogier starts in Zagreb, he has already pointed out that he won’t be driving a factory Yaris GR Rally1 at the following event in Portugal.