Ott Tanak made an immediate impression on his debut with the Toyota GR Corolla, winning the Overmountain Rally Tennessee last weekend. The Estonian not only took victory but also shared his thoughts on the car Toyota has developed for the US market.
For Tanak, this win felt special. He had not competed in a rally since last year’s Rally Saudi Arabia. The long break was evident in the early stages on Tennessee’s gravel roads. "In the beginning, it took a bit of time to get used to rallying again; it’s been a long time. But step by step, we found a bit of rhythm," he told DirtFish. With co-driver Martin Jarveoja, Tanak finished one minute and four seconds ahead of Brandon Semenuk.
The GR Corolla itself received high praise from the 2019 world champion. "The Corolla was quite an easy car to drive and we had a good feeling through the two days," he added. This positive assessment is an encouraging sign for Toyota as it develops the car for the American market.
The Tennessee rally presented its own challenges. The technical, slow stages demanded precision. "Generally, the roads were very technical, slow stages. It was quite a big job, but we enjoyed it. In the end, we were happy to come here, and it was nice to win the rally," Tanak said.
The victory also reminded Tanak of his glory days with Toyota. His last win with the Japanese manufacturer was in Wales during his 2019 title-winning season. After that campaign, he left for Hyundai. Now, Tanak is back with Toyota as a test driver, with his main task being the development of the WRC27 car.
The trip to Tennessee served a greater purpose. Toyota used the rally to gather data on Hankook’s WRC tyres in conditions that could feature in the WRC as early as next year. A US round of the championship has been proposed for the 2027 season. This data will be invaluable for Toyota and Hankook as the tyre supplier.
With an impressive performance and positive feedback, Tanak proved he is still hungry for competition. Although his role is now more of a developer, he continues to show his class. If the GR Corolla keeps improving, Toyota might have a new weapon for future battles.
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