Tänak told rally portal DirtFish: "Normally when you are going to an Estonian national event, you see some people on the stages, but you don't see them coming from their houses to watch on the road sections.

"It was actually quite heartwarming to see so many people, so many grandfathers and grandmothers out with their grandchildren, coming from the houses to look what was going on and to see the cars pass. This situation was long for many people and I think this brings variety to their lives. I think everyone had a nice day."

Viru Rally was the first official event Tänak has participated in since the coronavirus suspended the WRC season. In regards to spectators in the coming events, capacities will be much different than that of prior to COVID-19.

Tänak said: "Coronavirus will spread for quite a long time. We don't know when it will end. It is better to treat it as a friend who needs to be handled well. If we have a 20 kilometer stage, we have plenty of room to disperse people."

ERR News wrote on July 2 the organizers of Rally Estonia and WRC promoter GmbH confirmed that the currently suspended World Rally Championship (WRC) season will continue in September with Rally Estonia.

Rally Estonia will be held on September 4-6 in Southern Estonia. This will mark the return of the currently suspended WRC season and will make Estonia the 33rd country to host a WRC round after the series was started in 1973.

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