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Hyundai i20 Rally1 was not a real contender for this year's World Rally Championship, and we know that Estonian and 2019 World Rally champion Ott Tanak wants the best machinery to fight for the title. I understand him when he doesn't want anything but the best.
Hyundai Motorsport management made bigger mistakes in the last 18 months with some stupid decisions and their team prinicipal Cyril A. is the one to blame. But now the thing is finished and nothing could be done to repair the thing then look at the future. At least they brought Andrew Wheatley to lead the team in WRC and he is the guy who worked for FIA and M-Sport so he knows the business good, as opposite to Cyril A. who worked in F1, which is quite different from WRC.
Ott Tanak wanted the best car, and as Toyota signed Oliver Solberg for the Rovanpera's vacant seat, the only two options were to stay at Hyundai or M-Sport Ford, the team which doesn't have the real budget to fight in front.
That's why Tanak opted for temporary retirement to stay with his family at home then to fight with some bad car and collect frustrations. Now we have two top guys less in the sport - Ott Tanak and Kalle Rovanpera, who opted to try circuit racing with hope of F1.
We will have more news in the following weeks as silly season is in full bloom...
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I can't say I'm surprised by this - but I figured he would give Wheatley 2026 to see if he could bring Hyundai back and make them competitive again, then make his decision to continue or retire....
Tanak is competitive man and that's why he spent only one season back at M-Sport and immediately left for better team. If Toyota gave him an offer, he would be in WRC in 2026...