What was behind Tanak’s Saturday Monte Carlo blitz?

Hyundai workforce principal Cyril Abiteboul believes Ott Tanak’s good Saturday afternoon on the opening spherical of the brand new World Rally Championship season was right down to the mixture of a “deep look” into his strategy and the proper tyre technique.

Sebastien Ogier leads Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans by 20.3 seconds heading into Sunday’s operating, with Tanak 6.7 seconds additional again in fourth, surging into the reckoning for a podium in Monte Carlo by main each stage within the afternoon loop.

The efficiency got here off the again of a Friday that noticed Tanak rip the rear bodywork off his Hyundai, recovering to make sure he remained within the hunt.

Requested what the workforce had finished to Tanak’s automobile after Saturday’s morning loop, Abiteboul instructed Motorsport.com that the tempo was extra right down to a change of strategy and tyre selection as drivers get used to the brand new Hankook compounds.

“I don’t assume we now have finished something to the automobile. He’s not going to love what I’m going to say however what we now have finished and what he has finished is a deep look inside himself and his strategy of rally weekends,” stated Abiteboul.

“It’s too early to attract any conclusions however the truth that he’s now taking the time to construct up set-ups, assured and understanding to know precisely when to assault and when to lose a bit and when to again off and to play the lengthy recreation. That is good to see.

“We’ve got finished an evaluation of final 12 months as we at all times do and seen the place we missed out as a workforce with sure errors and with the third automobile however we additionally know there have been a couple of events the place Ott in all probability misplaced some alternatives and it’s optimistic to see a change of strategy and likewise within the communication it’s all optimistic.

“I believe his time within the center stage was a mix of a unique strategy and the best tyre name. It reveals that he’s a driver that wishes to go massive to get an enormous [reward].”

Combat for rally victory “nonetheless on”

Ogier’s lead places him in a commanding place as he searches for a record-extending tenth Monte Carlo victory, however with Evans nonetheless within the hunt with Tanak and third-placed Adrian Fourmaux – on his Hyundai debut – Abiteboul has insisted the race for total honours stays attainable.

However warning a win should not jeopardise championship endeavours, he defined: “It [the fight] continues to be on however let’s not get the goal flawed.

“The primary goal is to finish this rally with two vehicles minimal in good positions and to have the utmost factors from Monte Carlo. Let’s not attempt to win this rally at any value, that may be flawed at this level of the championship.”

Ogier agreed that the rally was removed from sewn up, telling Motorsport.com: “The battle continues to be on however I believe we managed the day fairly effectively.

“We managed to extend the lead a little bit bit, the hole went in a great path. I take that as a optimistic day. It has been difficult situations beginning final of the Rally1 vehicles, the street was not in our favour however we managed to remain out of hassle.

“Three phases to go tomorrow and they’re difficult ones, so let’s see. It received’t be simple as much as the tip.”

Group-mate Evans added: “It’s all pretty open. Seb is clearly going to be tough to beat if the whole lot goes to plan.

“He’s going to be tough to beat, no query. However the guys round us are solely a handful of seconds behind so that’s nothing actually on this rally.”

Pictures from WRC Rally Monte Carlo Day 3