'We Need to Be Stronger' – Ott Tänak Demands Hyundai Step Up After Portugal Setback

Ott Tänak urges Hyundai to fix reliability issues after a strong Portugal performance was derailed by mechanical setbacks despite showing top pace.

Hyundai rally driver Ott Tänak delivered a commanding performance at last weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, salvaging a hard-earned second place despite mechanical issues that dashed his hopes of victory.

The Estonian looked poised to challenge for his first FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) win of the season before a power steering failure on Saturday afternoon cost him nearly one minute.

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Undeterred, Tänak stormed through Sunday’s stages, claiming the maximum 12 points from Super Sunday and the Wolf Power Stage to finish just 8.7 seconds behind winner Sébastien Ogier.

“We had a puncture [on Saturday morning], and then we had the steering failure,” Tänak saidas per WRC portal.

“These are the things which, I mean, they decide the rally. That’s the way the rally is – it’s never only performance; it’s never only reliability. It’s the package. And yeah, it’s nothing to do with luck. It’s just how strong we are — and it means we need to be stronger.”

Despite the frustration of missing out on the top step, Tänak’s pace — particularly on gravel — highlighted the improvements Hyundai Motorsport has made to its i20 N Rally1 car.

Improvements shine, but reliability concerns remain

“Since Saturday after the first stage, we got the balance more in the window,” he explained.

“From there, every stage the car was working nicely. All the things we’ve done have been positive — at least for the gravel.”

Still, Tänak made clear that upgrades alone are not enough to mount a consistent championship challenge. Emphasizing the need to iron out the remaining flaws, he issued a call to action to his team.

“But yeah, we’d like to do many, many more things to really be on the level with Toyota. Our weakness is still these weak links, and in the end you are as strong as your weakest joint."

Tänak's final day in Portugal was a masterclass in commitment, as he won five of Sunday’s six stages, keeping the pressure on Ogier right to the finish line.

His efforts not only secured 27 crucial championship points but also offered a confidence boost heading into the next event.

Eyes set on Sardinia with a cautious outlook

With Rally Italia Sardegna fast approaching (5–8 June), Tänak is hopeful but realistic. The event has been kind to him in the past, but he stressed that Hyundai cannot afford to rely on past successes.

“27 points is a good score,” Tänak noted.

“I was very keen to at least put the fight to Kalle [Rovanperä, third overall]. But after the first one, where he took a lot of time from us, I wasn’t so sure - also about our tyre choice. I felt like Kalle had maybe a bit better choice than us, because the first stage was very abrasive and I felt like we were already on the limit with the tyres. But luckily, the next stages were damp and humid enough.”

Looking ahead, the 2019 world champion believes the key to success will be finding the right setup for Sardinia’s punishing terrain.

“Hope is a good thing, but hope never decides the rally,” he said.

“We know the window for this car in the past has been quite small where it’s working. We’re going to a completely different territory, so now I hope we find the sweet spot - and then we can also enjoy it.”