Tänak Comes Up Empty on Last Day of WRC Season
Ott Tänak closed his breakout season as a premier-circuit rally driver with a disappointing day at the Rally de España.
The 25-year-old driver for M-Sport Ford World Rally Team was unable to improve on his 8th place, 52-point season as he went off road in the last stage of the three-day Spanish rally.
Earlier in the rally, Tänak won two stages. He had led the race on day 1 - a first for Tänak. He was fourth after the second day and had been in fifth when he lost control.
He was coming off his first podium finish in the second-to-last WRC rally of the season - third place in Sardinia on October 21, a career best.
Chasing drivers such as Mikko Hirvonen and the seemingly invincible Sebastien Loeb yesterday, the Saaremaa native said he had entered a curve too fast.
"The competition had gone very well up to today, we posted fast ties and it felt great being on tarmac. To close the season that way is a big disappointment," said Tänak.