M-Sport Ford driver Ott Tänak will compete on his home event, Saaremaa Rally, next week with 2022 Junior World Rally champion Robert Virves as his co-driver.
Tänak, the 2019 world champion, hasn’t driven an R5/Rally2 car in almost 10 years, but will steer a Ford Fiesta Rally2 prepared by the RedGrey team which he owns.
Virves – who finished second in Saaremaa as a driver last year – stepping into the co-driver’s seat means this will be the first rally Tänak has done without Martin Järveoja since this very same event five years ago where Georg Gross sat next to him.
“I am happy to let you know that right after Rally Chile I will go to my home island to participate in the legendary Saaremaa Rally in the Ford Fiesta Rally2 prepared by RedGrey team,” Tänak said in a social media statement.
“And to make it even more interesting, the 2022 Junior World Rally champion Robert Virves will take a co-driver seat next to me.
“A proper challenge for sure, but I guess we will have some good fun in the car as well. See you soon in Saaremaa!”
Saaremaa is the sixth round of this year’s Estonian championship, and also an event selected as part of FIA Rally Star’s ‘training season’.
Tänak has won the event three times in the past, most recently in 2017 driving a Ford Fiesta WRC.
