Toyota Gazoo Racing has confirmed the return of 2019 World Rally Champion Ott Tänak to its World Rally Championship team for the 2026 season.
The Estonian driver, who left the team at the end of 2019 after winning his title, will rejoin to help develop the new Rally1 car.
Tänak’s return comes as Toyota expands its presence in the WRC, planning to enter two separate teams with two different Rally1 cars for the 2027 season. The team has already submitted a six-car entry list that includes both world champions and emerging rally stars.
Tänak’s Decision and Motivation
“I am honored to return to the GAZOO Racing TOYOTA team, where Martin and I became world champions,” Tänak said in an official statement. “We have very good memories from our previous period of cooperation here, and I have great respect for these people and what they have achieved.”
“I enjoyed being away from the competition for a while, but the desire to drive was still very strong. Getting involved in this new project has been an interesting challenge. With such major technical changes, there is still much to discover and learn. I eagerly await the opportunity to continue this work and start the new season with the new car.”
According to DirtFish journalist David Evans, who conducted an exclusive interview with Tänak, the driver felt a sense of relief when making the decision to step back from the championship. “When you leave the championship, that evening in Japan we sat at the table and talked that Ott was not finished. He can’t be finished.
Your story in the World Rally Championship has to continue,” Evans recounted Tänak saying. “There comes a period when things don’t go as smoothly as you hoped, and it’s hard to find that last necessary step to become even better. That’s why I think it was right to take a break for a while.”
Contact with Toyota and Development Role
Tänak revealed the process of rejoining Toyota was organic. “The people who work in the team know me and have my phone number. It wasn’t a call from a stranger. We probably started texting and discussing various things early on,” he said.
He noted that the team understood the workload their current drivers would face with the new car and the need for extensive testing. “I also had work, but it wasn’t that crazy—a few days a week. I found it manageable, and that way I could keep myself a little busy.”
The driver described the new Rally1 car as technically difficult to drive. “These technical regulations are quite complicated. The team had to invest a lot of work to create everything, and there is definitely still a lot to do. In a way, the challenges are good. The level of engineers is very high these days, so I think everything is possible. But it has not been easy.”
Toyota’s Plans for the 2026 Season
“Because Kalle is not driving a full season, that gives us the opportunity to offer a seat to other drivers,” Toyota’s Sporting Director Kaj Lindström said. “Obviously, they could be experienced drivers, like Seb. He is still part of our family and has a strong desire to drive some rallies next year. So we are working on the details together with him.”
Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala and Lindström also confirmed that in rallies where neither Rovanpera nor Tänak is competing, Toyota could give opportunities to drivers from its young talent program or other promising drivers competing with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car.
Rovanpera is expected to begin his season at the opening Monte Carlo Rally in January, while Tänak has already stated he will definitely miss those specific races.
Tänak’s Outlook and Competitive Landscape
When asked about his prospects for the upcoming season and whether his experience would help him with the new car, Tänak was cautious. “Yes, maybe it’s not such a special advantage, but of course, I have already had the chance to get used to the car, participate in its development, and better understand how it behaves. So that definitely helps,” he said.
He also predicted a highly competitive field due to the new technical regulations. “With these new technical rules, I think everything will be very open. First, we have to see how we will be able to compete with the Rally2 cars and other categories. There are quite a few of them now, so at least at the beginning of the season, the competition, in my opinion, will be very even.”
Tänak concluded by reflecting on the culture within the team. “The decision to return largely matured during the test sessions. I saw how professionally the people approach their work and how they do everything. If you work at this level, it of course also requires my commitment. But I see that they are also fully involved and ready to invest effort. So it’s nice to be together again.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- When did Ott Tänak leave Toyota WRC?
- Tänak left the Toyota Gazoo Racing team at the end of the 2019 World Rally Championship season, shortly after securing his world drivers’ championship title.
- How many rallies will Kalle Rovanpera compete in during the 2026 season?
- Kalle Rovanpera is scheduled to compete in approximately seven WRC rallies in 2026, which will create opportunities for other drivers in the second Toyota team.
- What is the main challenge for teams with the new Rally1 cars?
- As Tänak stated, “These technical regulations are quite complicated. The team had to invest a lot of work to create everything,” highlighting the significant engineering effort required to develop and adapt to the new technical specifications.
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