Photo: TGR WRC
Before announcing his hiatus from the World Rally Championship (WRC) to prioritize family time, Ott Tänak explored potential opportunities with Toyota, according to team manager Jari-Mati Latvala.
Latvala revealed that Tänak reached out to Toyota to inquire about a possible drive for the 2026 season. This contact occured before Toyota finalized its driver lineup, which was announced Monday in Japan as elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, Takamoto Katsuta, Sami Pajari, and Oliver Solberg-the latter replacing Kalle Rovanperä. The inquiry from Tänak underscores the competitive landscape of WRC driver contracts and the ongoing search for top talent.
“I think that every driver starts to look around and get interested in opportunities in other teams when the end of the contract approaches. Ott contacted us and asked about the situation, but at that time we had already made a decision about the lineup,” Latvala told Estonian media outlet Delfi.
Latvala confirmed the team’s decision regarding its 2026 roster was made well in advance of the public proclamation. “We had already decided that Oliver would take the place left by Kalle Rovanperä. As soon as it became clear that Kalle would leave, we instantly thought of Oliver,” he explained.
