World champion Ott Tänak was back in his natural environment for the first time in more than two months last week when he tested a Hyundai i20 R5.
Tänak, like his FIA World Rally Championship colleagues, has not driven in anger since returning to Europe after Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March following the Coronavirus surge.
He was happy to run development tests on roads around Otepää in his native Estonia, helping Hyundai Motorsport with the suspension set-up and engine maps.
He completed more than 160km during the test.
“It was nothing major at all, just some time to get out in the car and drive. I didn’t do so much in the i20 R5 car, so it was really nice to drive it and I’m very impressed.
“But mainly, like I say, it was just nice to be back in the car after the longest time I ever spent out of a rally car. It made me want to go back to work – to proper work – again.”
Hyundai Motorsport director Andrea Adamo was pleased with the results of the development running.
“It’s good to get some really positive feedback from Ott driving the car," Adamo said.
"For the i20 R5, we made a really nice start to the season with [WRC 2] podium finishes on all three rounds and Jari [Huttunen] in the top 10 in his i20 R5 and winning WRC 3 in Sweden.
“I’m just a little bit sad that I wasn’t able to be there with Ott. Like him and like everybody we miss this sport right now and it would be nice to hear the rally car running again.”
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