Ott Tanak wasted no time asserting his authority at the Overmountain Rally Tennessee, storming to the lead after four special stages. The Estonian, driving a Toyota Corolla Rally RC2, holds a 30.1-second advantage over home hero Conner Martell. Tanak, with long-time co-driver Martin Jarveoja alongside, won three of Friday's four stages, proving he hasn't lost any of his blistering pace.
But this outing is about more than just winning. Tanak and Jarveoja's presence in the US is part of Toyota's preparations for next season, gathering crucial data on the local gravel roads that could host a future WRC round. Their participation is also a strong indication that the Estonian pair will return to the Japanese manufacturer's WRC line-up next year. Tanak and Jarveoja won their only world title with Toyota in 2019 before moving to Hyundai for several seasons.
The rally didn't start perfectly for Tanak, as Canadian Brandon Semenuk set the fastest time on the opening stage of just under seven kilometres, beating the Estonian by one tenth. But the former world champion showed his class on Friday's other three stages, setting the fastest time on each. After SS4, Tanak leads Martell (Subaru) by 30.1 seconds, with Semenuk (Skoda) a further two seconds back in third. Toyota's other driver, Seth Quintero, is fourth, already more than a minute off the lead. Lia Block, daughter of the late Ken Block, rounds out the top five in her Hyundai.
Nine stages are scheduled for Saturday, and Tanak will be looking to maintain his advantage. But the bigger picture is his potential return to Toyota in the WRC. If he continues to perform at this level, it's hard to see how Toyota could ignore him. The data gathered here will also help Toyota decide whether to push for a US round in the future.
For now, Tanak remains focused on the task at hand: winning the rally. But as the sun sets on Friday, the paddock is buzzing with speculation about what this means for his future. One thing is clear: Tanak is still a force to be reckoned with.
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