Ever since the World Rally Championship kicked off in Monaco last Sunday, Ott Tänak has seemed like a different man—happier, more relaxed, and more open. But by Friday, his Monte Carlo Rally was teetering on the edge of mediocrity. A dicey trip through a ditch and a brush with a telegraph pole left his car battered, though miraculously only cosmetically.
Fast forward to Saturday, and Tänak has turned his rally on its head with a commanding performance that left onlookers in awe. With four stage wins out of six and a blistering pace that saw him gain 20.2 seconds on the pack, Tänak is now just 2.5 seconds off the podium and a mere 4.3 seconds away from second place. So, how did the 2019 champion pull off this remarkable comeback?
The Turning Point: Setup Tweaks Unlock Tänak’s Potential
In Tänak’s own words, Saturday morning was anything but promising.
“This morning was actually very, very disappointing,” he admitted. “After the first stage, where we lost another 10 seconds, I was quite sure that we will not find any pace and it will be a difficult rally.”
The Estonian ace revealed that his struggles stemmed from a lack of preparation. Having had no kilometers of testing with the new slick tires before the rally, Tänak entered Monte Carlo grappling with an unfamiliar car setup.
“I had no idea where to be with the car setup,” he confessed. “I’ve been just trying to understand during the first part of the rally.”
However, by lunchtime on Saturday, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. A series of chassis adjustments transformed the car’s balance and grip, unlocking its potential and allowing Tänak to find his rhythm.
“This afternoon it started to click,” he said. “I could feel the car and have a balance and get some grip as well, so it was working.”
Self-Reflection: A Weakness Turned Into Strength
Tänak didn’t shy away from acknowledging his own vulnerabilities.
“I can feel myself as well—it’s really my weak point. If the car is not working, I’m not able to deliver good times,” he admitted. “But when it’s working, I can really go in my rhythm and enjoy, and then the times are coming as well.”
By dialing in the setup, Tänak transformed a glaring weakness into his strongest asset, dominating the dry Tarmac stages with surgical precision.
The Final Day: Col de Turini Awaits
As the rally heads into its final day, the famed Col de Turini looms large on the horizon, with snow predicted to shake up the leaderboard. While Tänak has thrived on dry Tarmac, the unpredictable Monte Carlo weather could level the playing field—or flip the script entirely.
“Every day has been a different rally,” Tänak reflected. “And as it’s a rally in Monte Carlo, I think tomorrow the rally for sure will surprise us.”
Despite the uncertainty, Tänak remains focused on maintaining his newfound rhythm and capitalizing on his momentum.
Can Tänak Complete the Comeback?
On current form, Tänak looks more than capable of overtaking Elfyn Evans and teammate Adrien Fourmaux to secure a podium finish—or even challenge for second place. But as the Monte Carlo Rally has proven time and again, nothing is certain until the final flag drops.
For now, Tänak’s Saturday surge serves as a testament to his resilience, adaptability, and raw speed—a reminder of why he’s a former world champion. If he can carry this form into Sunday, the Monte Carlo Rally might just see one of the most stunning comebacks in recent memory.
“Nothing is granted,” Tänak warned. “But for sure, I would like to keep the rhythm I have.”