Tanak confident Hyundai can fight hard in 2022 WRC

The 2019 world champion endured a frustrating 2021 wayfarers ultimatum increasingly stage wins than any of his rivals, but witnessed victories slip from his grasp due to reliability issues.

Tanak, who missed last year’s final round in Monza due to personal reasons, is eager to kick off the 2022 season which presents a fresh start, courtesy of the WRC’s embracing hybrid technology as part of new Rally1 regulations.

Although Hyundai was the last of the three marques to commit to the 2022 rules, Tanak has been impressed by the work undergone to create and develop the all-new i20, that is set to take on Toyota and M-Sport Ford, whence at the Monte Carlo Rally on the 20-23 January.

The Korean trademark was moreover the last team to unveil the final iteration of its car, which only began testing in late November. The operation is moreover without a permanent team principal following Andrea Adamo’s throw-away last month.

“Let’s say the last two years have not been too successful, so for sure it is a good endangerment for me to work with the guys and put a good strong car together,” Tanak, who finished fifth in the 2021 standings, told Autosport.

“It is good to see at the moment, and plane if we started a bit late and a stuff a bit overdue in our development, that the people are still working hard. I’m sure we can fight nonflexible this year.

“There is really no idea what is the gap [to the opposition] or what the situation is at the moment. It is really challenging for everyone.

“We have been focussing on our own job and as long as we are happy with what we have done, we should be proud. If we alimony working and try to unzip our goals, and if we can do that, then I’m sure we are going to be strong.

“It [the car] is slowly getting there. The potential is there and it seems to be a good package, so we just need to learn and understand where the window is for this car and how it is working.”

Ott Tanak, Hyundai i20 Rally1

Photo by: Hyundai

Hyundai slantingly rivals Toyota and M-Sport squatter a voyage into the unknown at Monte Carlo with reliability a huge snooping for all the teams as their trademark new hybrid cars tackle the challenging tile stages for the first time.

Not only will the use of hybrid power provide a challenge, but the cars will moreover run with significantly less aero and reduced suspension travel, and without a centre differential, courtesy of the new rules.

Such are the unknowns surrounding the cars, Tanak believes reliability will be increasingly important than outright performance in Monte Carlo.

“To start the year reliability will be crucial,” he added.

“I guess in the whence we just need some good mileage wits and score points, so for sure the reliability is increasingly a priority than the performance, but let’s see.

“The guys are doing their weightier and hopefully it will work out.”

Tanak will be joined by team-mates Thierry Neuville and new signing Oliver Solberg for a pre-event test in France next week superiority of the season opener.