The Ford squad put an end to a rough run of results last Sunday when Tanak and co-driver Martin Jarveoja scored a first victory since February’s Rally Sweden triumph.
Heading into Chile, the British outfit had scored two podiums in a campaign that had been blighted by misfortune and reliability woes.
However, Tanak and the team were unstoppable on Chile’s tyre punishing gravel roads. The convincing victory was set up by an inspired call to take hard tyres for Saturday’s abrasive stages.
“It’s definitely nice to have a positive outcome from a week after what feels like a long time," said Tanak.
“Altogether it is definitely quite close to a perfect weekend. It seemed somehow very different from what we have to do normally.
“It was not too much about pure performance at all, it was a lot about management and how to get through the loop, it was a different kind of challenge. These positive vibes are always helping so I am sure it’s been a great week for the team.”
M-Sport’s future competing at the WRC’s highest level is yet to be confirmed as it continues to secure sponsorship and budgets for 2024.
Source: Autosport