Ott Tänak says time away from the World Rally Championship has renewed his appetite for competition as he prepares to return with Toyota in 2027.
In an interview published by WRC on 5 November, the 2019 world champion reflected on his season outside the championship and the development work that helped persuade him to race again.
The interview follows Toyota’s 3 November announcement of its expanded six-crew programme.
Development work helped shape the decision
Tänak left Hyundai at the end of 2025 and has spent 2026 away from WRC competition. He has continued driving through a development role with Toyota.
He told WRC that the break had given him time for himself while allowing him to keep enjoying rally cars. Working with the team also helped convince him that he wanted to return to competition.
The Estonian won his first world title with Toyota in 2019. His next campaign will take him back into a larger line-up that also includes Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, Oliver Solberg, Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta.
Strong competition within Toyota
Tänak expects a close contest among his team-mates. In the interview, he acknowledged how much Toyota has developed since his previous spell and said all of its drivers are capable of winning.
He is targeting a second world title after winning his first seven years ago.
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Photograph: © At World, supplied with the WRC interview.