P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Tanak: No plans to alter Monte WRC strategy after costly spin
On Friday morning, the Hyundai driver finished the first loop of stages in fourth place overall, more than a minute behind rally leader Elfyn Evans of Toyota. This was due to a spin on stage three, where he lost 41.9 seconds after hitting a patch of ice and ending up in a ditch. Other drivers, including his teammate Thierry Neuville and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, also lost time on the same icy section.
Despite the time loss, Tanak stated that he does not plan to change his strategy for the rally. The new WRC points structure, which includes separate points distribution for Sunday’s final leg, does not affect his approach. He still wants to continue learning about the car and improving its performance.
Tanak admitted that he underestimated the danger posed by the ice on stage three and was driving slightly too fast. However, Hyundai has resolved the throttle issues that plagued them on the previous night. He also mentioned feeling relatively comfortable in the upgraded i20 N and being relaxed behind the wheel, although he still needs more driving experience to fully unleash the car’s potential.
