Ogier: Tänak the clear favorite for WRC Rally Estonia
The World Rally Championship (WRC) will continue in Estonia in early-September, after a half-year hiatus. Six-time world champion Sebastian Ogier (Toyota) says the clear favorite to win the round is Estonian reigning world champion Ott Tänak (Hyundai).
Ogier told WRC, referring to Tänak: "It's pretty clear who is going to be the benchmark here in Estonia so I think for everybody the target will be to try to follow him and fight with him if we can.
"Let's see which kind of conditions we get at the beginning of September here. We all know that starting first [in the running order] is sometimes difficult. So let's hope the weather in September will maybe help us so we don't have too much disadvantage and then let's see what we can do."
Ogier was in Estonia to test the Toyota rally car in the start of August and will participate in the South Estonian Rally this weekend. "The roads are extremely fast. I've heard that's how it tends to be in Estonia so I expect similar fast sections on the WRC rally."
WRC drivers testing Estonian roads
Finns Esapekka Lappi and Teemu Suninen of team M-Sport Ford are in Estonia testing out the roads in anticipation of the South Estonian Rally (August 23) and WRC Rally Estonia (Septmeber 4-6).
Both rally drivers posted videos on their social media on August 20, agreeing with each other that it feels good to be back behind the wheel.
Time to do some testing on the Estonian gravel roads with Ford Fiesta R5 before the Lõuna-Eesti Ralli. Great to get back on wheels after a long break! ???????? #lõunaeestiralli #MSPORTERS #FordFiestaR5 @FordPerformance #rally pic.twitter.com/2F1ChWHncM
— Teemu Suninen Racing (@TeemuSuninenRac) August 20, 2020
It's been a while ????☀️????#WRC #MSPORTERS #L4PPI pic.twitter.com/RzTzmBBPhU
— Esapekka Lappi Rally (@EsapekkaLappi) August 20, 2020
Welsh driver Elfyn Evans had already tried out South Estonian roads a few weeks ago.
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Editor: Kristjan Kallaste