Ott Tänak has announced he will step away from full-time competition in the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2025 season, putting an indefinite pause on a career that saw him win the world title in 2019 with Toyota.
The 38-year-old Estonian communicated his decision through an extensive message, explaining that he seeks to "recognize the balance between competition and personal life" as his children grow up. Tänak emphasized that he does not consider this a definitive farewell from rallying, but rather an opportunity to "reset, recharge, and reorient" his career.
Photo By Red Bull Content Pool
WRC Career
The decision comes after a 2025 season where Tänak returned to Hyundai Motorsport following his stint with M-Sport in 2023. During the year, he secured one victory at the Acropolis Rally of Greece and accumulated six additional podiums, although he also experienced setbacks like a five-minute penalty in Rally Finland for not following technical control procedures.
Tänak became world champion in 2019 with Toyota, breaking a streak of 15 consecutive titles for French drivers between Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier. His career includes over 20 WRC victories and podiums with three different manufacturers: Ford (M-Sport), Toyota, and Hyundai.
The Estonian made his WRC debut in 2012 with M-Sport Ford after winning the WRC Academy title in 2011. His most successful period came with Toyota between 2018-2019, where besides the world championship he also achieved the runner-up position in 2018. Subsequent moves to Hyundai (2020-2022), a return to M-Sport (2023), and a comeback to Hyundai (2024-2025) reflected constant searches for better competitive conditions.
Tänak's departure is a significant loss for the WRC, considering he is one of the few active competitors with a world title outside of French control over the past two decades. His decision raises questions about the future competitiveness of the world championship and the opportunities for the new generation of drivers.
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Tänak indicated he will maintain ties with rally "in one way or another," suggesting possible selective participation or different roles within the sport. His mentor Markko Märtin had built the bridge for Estonian competitors to reach the WRC, a legacy that Tänak continued and expanded considerably.
Upcoming Races
Drivers Standings 2026
| POS | PILOTO | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elfyn Evans | 60 | arrow_up1 |
| 2 | Oliver Solberg | 47 | arrow_down1 |
| 3 | Takamoto Katsuta | 30 | arrow_up4 |
| 4 | Adrien Fourmaux | 28 | |
| 5 | Thierry Neuville | 21 | |
| 6 | Sébastien Ogier | 18 | arrow_down3 |
| 7 | Sami Pajari | 17 | arrow_up7 |
| 8 | Esapekka Lappi | 9 |
Manufacturers Standings 2026
| POS | CONSTRUCTOR | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT | 117 | |
| 2 | HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM | 66 | |
| 3 | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT2 | 18 | arrow_up1 |
| 4 | M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM | 14 | arrow_down1 |
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