Tänak joins forces with Virves for Saaremaa Rally

Tänak will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 at the Saaremaa Rally, where he will be co-driven by countryman and fellow world champion Robert Virves (2022 Junior WRC title winner).

“It will be some good fun,” said Tänak. “And even more interesting to have Robert taking the co-driver seat next to me. The Saaremaa Rally is legendary and it will be a proper challenge.”

While Tänak hasn’t competed on the island where he grew up since 2017, he’s a previous winner on Saaremaa.

The 12-stage event includes 125 competitive kilometres, starting with three stages on Friday evening and concluding on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to Tänak, Rally Estonia chief and former factory WRC driver Urmo Aava is back behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza for the gravel event.

The Kuressaare-based event also forms part of the FIA Rally Star training programme. Six Rally Star crews start the rally in identical Ford Fiesta Rally3s. 

Leading driver Romet Jürgenson said: “I will make a steady start and then progressively try to find my speed. Once I find my speed, I will need to keep going in this way but let’s see how fast I can find it. However, I feel confident and it will be good to do this rally because there will be a lot of people coming to watch and a lot of good drivers taking part.”