Ott Tanak has announced plans to step down from full-time rallying at the end of the 2025 World Rally Championship.
The Hyundai driver had been tight-lipped on his future prior to this week’s Rally Japan, where he finished a distant fourth behind the Toyota trio of Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari.
However, just hours after finishing fourth in the penultimate round of the season, Tanak announced plans to step away from full-time rallying. The 2019 world champion says he plans to spend more time with his family next year. It is unclear whether this move will see the Estonian appear in the WRC on a part-time basis in 2026.
“After many incredible years competing at the top of the WRC, I have decided that the end of the 2025 season is the right moment to step back from full-time rallying,” said Tanak, who has scored eight wins for the Korean brand.
“This isn’t a complete goodbye, it’s a chance to reset, recharge and refocus for the future. This sport has been a huge part of my life, but I feel it’s time to take a breath, spend more time with my family and focus on life back home in Estonia.
"I want to sincerely thank everyone at Hyundai Motorsport for the incredible years we have spent together, from the engineers and mechanics to the management and all those working tirelessly behind the scenes, and last but not least, all our amazing fans around the world. We have shared victories, challenges and countless memories that I will always carry with me.
“I am proud of everything we achieved together and deeply grateful for the trust and support the team has shown me. I still love the sport deeply and I’m sure I’ll continue to be around in some way. Thank you once again and see you somewhere down the road!"
Hyundai Motorsport president, Cyril Abiteboul, added: “While we were sad to learn of Ott’s decision, we naturally understand his motivation to step away from full-time rallying. We have achieved a lot together across two very successful eras – from that first electrifying win in Estonia to the 2020 manufacturers’ title, as well as eight victories and many podiums. For all the highs we have celebrated together, there have also been some lows, yet Ott has always remained fully committed.
“He is one of the finest rally drivers in the world and remains a force to be reckoned with; when he has all the right ingredients, he is unstoppable. Ott has been a true inspiration on and off the stages, and we thank him for his contributions to the success of our team. It may be the second time we are parting ways, but Ott remains part of the Hyundai family. Thank you, Ott – we hope we meet again one day.”
Hyundai confirmed that it will announce its 2026 driver WRC driver line-up in due course. It is expected that the driver lineup will feature 2024 world champion Theirry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux.
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