M-SPORT WANTS FORD HELP TO LURE TANAK
Wilson meets with Ford, Tanak about creating superteam
Malcolm Wilson met with Ott Tanak and Ford last weekend on Rally Germany, in a lastditch attempt to persuade Tanak to join a long-term Ford-backed programme with the Cumbrian firm.
“It’s important to have the driver in place to lead the team for 2022 [the start of the WRC’S hybrid future],” said Wilson. “I know how good Ott is technically because we worked with him for so long, and the combination of him and my guys will come up with a car – as always – [that] is a winning car basically.”
M-sport has not given up on luring Ott Tanak away from Toyota, with Malcolm Wilson aiming to secure increased input from Ford in a bid to create a 2022 World Rally Championship super team when new regulations come into force.
Reports have emerged in recent weeks that Tanak will stay with Toyota once his contract expires with the team at the end of the year. But before the start of Rally Germany last week, Tanak confirmed his representatives were still in talks with other teams, saying: “Yes, exactly. That’s the way it works. Of course, we are speaking to everybody.”
Pushed on if he had signed with Toyota, he added: “No, that’s not true. There is nothing on paper yet and there are still a lot of talks going on. I believe it will still take some time.”
M-sport meeting
Tanak met with Wilson in the service park in Bostalsee last weekend, while his long-time advisor Markko Martin was also seen talking to Hyundai’s Andrea Adamo and Alain Penasse.
Wilson said his eyes were firmly on the future with Tanak, and that’s how he could attract the driver he dropped three times from his WRC team in the past to return, although Tanak has described M-sport as like a family.
The WRC is set to introduce a new rules cycle in 2022 which will include some element of hybrid technology.
“What we’re looking to try and
achieve – again, we still don’t know if this is achievable – but the long-term goal is to look at the new car for 2022,” Wilson told Motorsport News. “It’s important to have the driver in place to lead the team for 2022.
“I know how good Ott is technically because we worked with him for so long, and I know the combination of him and my guys will come up with a car – as we’ve always developed –
[that] is a winning car basically.
“I think that’s an important aspect. We’d definitely be looking for a three-year commitment.”
Before heading to the Suzuka 10 Hours on Sunday, Wilson also met with Ford representatives. The marque has a technical alliance with M-sport but hasn’t run as a manufacturer in the WRC since 2012. Wilson said its help would be vital for the new era of the WRC.
“We’re looking at all aspects, obviously we can’t do the new car for 2022 without Ford as well, as you’re aware there’s a big Ford presence here. There will be no decisions made this weekend, but hopefully we can find a way to keep Ford involved at the highest level.
“For sure he [Tanak] isn’t going to come if Ford isn’t behind the project. I wouldn’t expect him to come [without Ford]. Of course, now the level the sport is, we need that technical support from Ford Performance in the US, as well as some funding, we can’t do it as M-sport on our own. That’s why we haven’t got Seb [Ogier at the end of 2018] and didn’t retain Ott because they have to make the numbers stack up and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing this year.”
Toyota temptation
Four-time WRC champion Tommi Makinen is at the helm at Toyota, and wants to retain Tanak. He, like Wilson, sees Tanak’s engineering prowess as a big plus for the future.
Makinen says he understands how difficult Tanak’s decision is, and he drew comparisons to his own six-year spell as a driver at Mitsubishi in which he won titles between 1996-1999.
“I had a similar situation, many times I remember there were other possibilities [outside of Mitsubishi],” Makinen told MN.
“I was looking at my own position, it’s such an important decision when you decide your next two years for example.
“It’s such a special time which doesn’t last forever.
“If I’m thinking from a drivers’ point of view, it would be easy to continue where he is now…
“I understand [Ott speaking to other teams]. I don’t care about that. If he wants to do something else, it is his decision.
“If he wants to continue, we can do that and it would be perfect.”