The inside story of Tanak's shock Hyundai switch
Autosport Plus
WRC News

The inside story of Tanak's shock Hyundai switch

By:

All signs pointed to new World Rally champion Ott Tanak enjoying a long alliance with powerhouse team Toyota, but a late U-turn now has him at Hyundai for 2020. This is the story of how Tanak and Toyota ended up divorcing just at their greatest moment

How on earth did it come to this? How did Toyota lose Ott Tanak? Be under no illusion, Toyota has lost its world champion. Persuasive and charismatic as Hyundai Motorsport director Andrea Adamo is, he shouldn't have been allowed anywhere near Tanak.

Something has gone seriously awry to lure Tanak and Martin Jarveoja away from the best-funded team with the fastest car and the brightest future in the championship. How many other manufacturers have a president clapping and cheering at the side of the road in the way Akio Toyoda does?

shares
comments

Promoted: The story behind Ott Tanak's rise to WRC glory

WRC champion Tanak leaves Toyota, joins Hyundai for 2020

More from David Evans

The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends

The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends

Plus
Plus
Misc Other rally

The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends

Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies

Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies

Plus
Plus
WRC WRC
Rally Monza

Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies

What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic

What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic

Plus
Plus
WRC WRC

What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic

Autosport 70: How Richard Burns scaled the WRC mountain

Autosport 70: How Richard Burns scaled the WRC mountain

WRC WRC

Autosport 70: How Richard Burns scaled the WRC mountain Autosport 70: How Richard Burns scaled the WRC mountain

Colin McRae's 10 greatest rallies ranked

Colin McRae's 10 greatest rallies ranked

Plus
Plus
WRC WRC

Colin McRae's 10 greatest rallies ranked Colin McRae's 10 greatest rallies ranked

Autosport 70: A world rally legend says goodbye?

Autosport 70: A world rally legend says goodbye?

WRC WRC

Autosport 70: A world rally legend says goodbye? Autosport 70: A world rally legend says goodbye?

Watch: The champions of rallying's craziest decade

Watch: The champions of rallying's craziest decade

WRC WRC

Watch: The champions of rallying's craziest decade Watch: The champions of rallying's craziest decade

FIA reveals 'Rally Star' prize scheme to find next WRC champion

FIA reveals 'Rally Star' prize scheme to find next WRC champion

WRC WRC

FIA reveals 'Rally Star' prize scheme to find next WRC champion FIA reveals 'Rally Star' prize scheme to find next WRC champion

The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos

The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos

Plus
Plus
WRC
Rally Mexico
Tom Howard

The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos

How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland

How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland

Plus
Plus
WRC
Rally Sweden
Tom Howard

How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland How the WRC title fight ignited in Sweden's winter wonderland

Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival

Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival

Plus
Plus
WRC
Rally Monte Carlo
Tom Howard

Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival Why Monte Carlo success could spark another past master’s WRC revival

How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master

How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master

Plus
Plus
WRC
Rally Monte Carlo
Tom Howard

How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master How fired-up Ogier became the WRC's ultimate Monte master

How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling

How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling

Plus
Plus
WRC
Tom Howard

How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling How Lancia pulled off its famous Monte Carlo giantkilling

Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion

Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion

Plus
Plus
WRC
Tom Howard

Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion Why M-Sport has pinned all its efforts on a WRC reunion

The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown

The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown

Plus
Plus
WRC
Tom Howard

The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown The contenders seeking to take Rovanpera's WRC crown

Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title

Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title

Plus
Plus
WRC
Tom Howard

Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title Why Rovanpera is anticipating a fight to defend his WRC title