P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Tanak has "bigger things to worry about" than WRC points deficit
The Hyundai driver, Ott Tanak, was expected to be a title contender this year, but he has yet to make a significant impact as he has not secured a podium finish after three rounds. Tanak faced setbacks in the earlier rounds, finishing fourth in Monte Carlo and crashing out in Sweden, only salvaging six points under super rally regulations. Tanak’s most recent misfortune came at Safari Rally Kenya, where he crashed out of second place due to hitting a rock in the middle of the road in stage six. Despite these challenges, Tanak managed to earn 12 points in Kenya by topping Sunday’s classification and finishing second on the Power Stage thanks to the WRC’s new points system. With teammate Thierry Neuville leading the championship by 34 points, Tanak’s primary focus now is on regaining his form and consistency. Looking ahead to the upcoming Croatia rally, Tanak will aim to bounce back on the asphalt stages and improve his performance. Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul emphasized that there is no defined number one driver within the team this year, but acknowledged that a decision may need to be made to support one title contender over the other as the season progresses.
