Remarkable run of form from Hyundai's new championship leader has Toyota technical director concerned
Photography by Hyundai & Toyota
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
Little wonder the opposition is running scared – Ott Tänak’s on one right now. It’s almost three years since he’s enjoyed the sort of run of results he’s managed since March.
Tänak’s Hyundai been on the podium five times in the last six rallies and, in the last three events, he’s snagged 74% of the available points and comprehensively outscored his nearest rivals. Across Sardinia, Greece and Estonia, he’s won 78 points – that’s 35 more than Elfyn Evans, the Toyota rival he’s usurped at the top of the table.
Is that run of form and the Estonian’s P1 position a concern for Toyota?
Typically, Tom Fowler is candid in his appraisal of the Tänak threat. Don’t forget, he knows how dangerous he can be – they worked together to land the 2019 drivers’ title.
Smiling thinly, Fowler told DirtFish: “I’ve been becoming gradually more afraid about what Ott Tänak is able to do with the Hyundai since Portugal.
“Ott’s performance has been stepping up over the last four gravel events and, essentially, I think he’s only been held back by reliability and some consistency topics about whether he gets the car that he wants when he wants it.
“Otherwise, his level of performance seems to be a little bit scary. Going into Finland, we know exactly what he’s capable of. There have been some key battles in [Finland] in recent years and I think all of the teams came away from Estonia with a little bit of learning – and the season and the battle is just going to get closer.”
Jyväskylä has very much the stronghold of Toyota’s Yaris, with the World Rally Car and Rally1 derivatives combining to win in six of the last seven years. The only fly in the ointment? Tänak’s swashbuckling 2022 success in an i20.
Words:David Evans
Tags: Ott Tanak, Rally Finland, Rally Finland 2025, Tom Fowler, Toyota Gazoo Racing, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date July 28, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/07/qofIFszt-2025ACROPOLIS_RT_157-780x520.jpg July 28, 2025
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