Ott Tänak Chats with Sébastien Ogier During Finnish Rally Test Stage

Ott Tänak, the 2019 world champion, was observed engaging in conversation with current world champion Sébastien Ogier during a test stage at the Rally Finland. This encounter occurred during the tenth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) series, which commenced on Thursday.

Notably, Tänak was absent from the Estonian WRC rally two weeks prior. His whereabouts during that time were reportedly in Italy, where he was testing Toyota's upcoming 2027 car, according to team principal Juha Kankkunen. The Rally Finland, a historic event celebrating its 75th anniversary, is drawing numerous rally legends and past winners.

Fans will have opportunities to meet these rally icons at the Jyväskylä exhibition center, the rally park, on Thursday at 13:45. It remains uncertain if Tänak will participate in these meet-and-greets. A rally legends' dinner is also scheduled for the evening.

Tänak has a strong history at the Finnish rally, having won it three times: in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota, and in 2022 with Hyundai. He was the first Estonian to win the rally in 2003, achieving this with Ford. There has been speculation that Tänak, who has been working with Toyota since spring to develop their 2027 rally car, might return to the WRC series in 2027. While Tänak has not confirmed these rumors, Kankkunen has predicted positive news for Estonian fans regarding Toyota's driver lineup next year.