Ott Tanak may have stepped away from full-time World Rally Championship competition, but this past weekend he proved his speed is far from gone. Alongside co-driver Martin Jarveoja, Tanak returned to winning ways in the American Rally Association (ARA) Overmountain Rally Tennessee. Driving a Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2, he dominated the event, beating runner-up Brandon Semenuk by over a minute.
The victory was particularly sweet as Tanak has been getting familiar with several Toyota cars this year. He tested the forthcoming WRC27 and current Rally1 machines, and drove a GR Yaris Rally2 at Rally di Roma Capitale. Now, the GR Corolla RC2 has been added to the list. "It's been all okay, to be honest. There are some quite long and twisty stages, so they feel never-ending," Tanak said before the final day's stages.
Out of 12 special stages, Tanak set the fastest time on ten of them. This stunning performance shows he still possesses sharp competitive instincts. Ott Tanak is known as one of the fastest drivers of his generation, and this win serves as a reminder of his class.
Tanak's participation in ARA Tennessee was more than just a race. The United States is likely to host a WRC round next year in the same region. Tanak used the opportunity to gather valuable data on the conditions and the Hankook tyres that will be used in WRC. "We're just focusing on our work with Hankook. It's a WRC tyre, and there is a good chance of having a WRC event in the US next year. We're collecting data to see exactly how the tyre wears and performs," he explained.
Furthermore, speculation about Tanak returning as an official Toyota factory driver next season is growing stronger. Toyota has long been linked with expansion plans in the US, and Tanak could be key to their development. If he does return, he would be one of the most experienced drivers on the grid.
Interestingly, Tanak is the only driver to have experienced two new WRC events this year: Rome and Tennessee. That experience could prove invaluable if he returns to the main championship. With his speed still evident, rally fans will be hoping to see Tanak back on the world stage.
The Tennessee win may only be a national event, but for Tanak, it's a small step towards a potential big comeback. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next.
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