How Ott Tanak can help Toyota's WRC 2027 car development

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Ott Tanak taking on a role to help develop Toyota’s 2027 World Rally Championship car will provide useful information and reduce workload for the team's current drivers, says Sebastien Ogier.

Toyota has enlisted the services of 2019 world champion Tanak to help carry out valuable testing and develop the Japanese brand's all-new car built to the WRC’s new technical regulations that will come into force next year.

Tanak had been on the sidelines this year after making the decision to step away from competing in the WRC this season. While he has stayed away from the service park, the Estonian has remained linked to the championship by acting as a mentor for current Toyota driver and close friend Takamoto Katsuta.

In addition to that role, Tanak has now been behind the wheel of Toyota’s new 2027 challenger in tests both on asphalt and gravel, the most recent outing taking place in Spain last week.

His return to Toyota, having previously won his only world title with the brand in 2019, has created plenty of speculation that he could be set for a return to the WRC next year, should there become a vacancy at the team.

Nine-time world champion Ogier, who is the only current Toyota factory WRC driver yet to test the 2027 car, has welcomed Tanak’s return to driving, and believes he could be very valuable to the team.

Toyota Spain

Toyota Spain

“We have been aware of it [Tanak testing the car] for a little while obviously but Ott I think still have some hunger and some wish to drive bit more probably, and he will tell you better than me,” said Ogier at Rally Islas Canarias, whose WRC future beyond this year is yet to be determined.