WRC Rally Saudi Arabia
Ott Tanak looking forward to break from full-time rallying next year
Tanak has no regrets and is grateful to have chased the World Rally Championship dream as he prepares to step away from full-time rallying
Tom Howard
Edited: Nov 30, 2025, 11:23 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Massimo Bettiol - Getty Images
Rally Saudi Arabia marked Ott Tanak’s final outing with Hyundai after the 2019 world champion announced plans to take a sabbatical earlier this month to reset and spend more time with his family.
Tanak had been in the victory hunt in Saudi Arabia before a series of punctures on Friday ended any hopes of a podium to sign off his time in the WRC.
While the 38-year-old has stated that he doesn’t plan to cut ties with rallying and is open to a WRC return in the future, he is grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to become one of the championship’s superstar drivers.
Read Also:
During a career that began in 2009, Tanak has driven for M-Sport-Ford, Toyota and Hyundai at the top level, with his greatest achievement being his run to the 2019 world title with Toyota.
Reflecting on a successful career to date that includes 22 wins, 58 podiums and 439 stage wins, Tanak said: “We have been doing this for 10-15 years full-time so it’s been a busy time, and I have had the opportunity to chase my dream. I’m very grateful for the team and my family to allow me to do this. It has been a great time.
“It has been an interesting time and I’m grateful for everything I have done. I have been in many different teams, and I have seen a lot, and I have expected a lot. I have met a lot of people. I don’t regret anything and I’m very grateful.
“I have victories at every team, and every team has been good and bad but that is the way it is. We are here to have a good life and meet the people and work with them and I think I have been able to work with all the people. I’m very grateful for the whole experience.
“I definitely dreamed [about having a career and winning the WRC title] but I did not imagine [it would be possible].”
Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team
Photo by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
Tanak is already looking forward to switching off from motorsport for a while and enjoying some respite from an intense WRC season – as well as a testing schedule that offers little opportunity to take breaks.
“Generally, with the seasons [and how they work], it is definitely the worst sport you can have," he added. "You just go all around and there is never a break. The calendar is crazy stupid, and you don't have a single break in the year and you go like this for 15 years and that is where you are.
"I’m not sure if I will do some local rallies [next year], I’m not sure what is the case at the moment. The first plan is to switch off from the sport and all the work in the background, and let’s see what the rest brings. But I have a few holidays planned.”
The WRC is about to make a significant transition over the next two years, with a new commercial rights holder arriving next year ahead of a change in technical regulations in 2027.
Read Also:
WRCOtt Tanak opens up on decision to leave WRC
WRCOtt Tanak's exit a "huge loss" for WRC - Elfyn Evans
When asked if these changes could help persuade him to come back to the WRC full-time in the future, he added: “Actually this is something I am quite worried about. The cars have been the only good thing about the sport at the moment, and we are changing something that is easy to change but we are not working on something that takes effort to do.
“I think the promotion would make a much bigger change for the sport than changing the technical regulations. Let’s see, it is not my problem and I can follow it from the outside.”
Photos from Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
Rally Saudi Arabia - Day 4, in photos
WRC
38
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article What Elfyn Evans was missing in his 2025 WRC title fight
Next article What Kalle Rovanpera will miss most now he’s called time on WRC
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tom Howard
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC 22 h
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
WRC
WRC
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
More from
Ott Tanak
Ott Tanak to make ARA debut on WRC fact finding mission
WRC
WRC
Ott Tanak to make ARA debut on WRC fact finding mission
Ott Tanak: Never say never on WRC 2027 return but “no plan” for the moment
WRC
WRC
Rally Greece
Ott Tanak: Never say never on WRC 2027 return but “no plan” for the moment
More from
Hyundai Motorsport
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
Adrien Fourmaux eager to end WRC's Rally1 chapter in style
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
Adrien Fourmaux eager to end WRC's Rally1 chapter in style
Latest news
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 22 min
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
6 h
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
10 h
Ricky Stenhouse explains his side of Michael McDowell conflict
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 11 h
Barnes: Why IndyCar’s updated licensing system fails its own integrity test
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe