Tanak gets another Fiesta chance

Ott Tanak will get another chance to drive a Ford Fiesta RS WRC when he contests the French championship Rallye du Var from tomorrow.

Tanak, who impressed in sixth overall on Wales Rally GB earlier this month, will join Jari-Matti Latvala in a two-car team on the asphalt event, which the factory Ford squad is using as preparation for next season’s World Rally Championship opener in Monte Carlo.

Both Fiestas will run a variety of new components aimed at upping the performance of the machines ahead of the planned 2012 campaign.

However, Wilson told Autosport magazine in the UK that Tanak’s inclusion was not a pointer to his driver line-up next year.

“We’d always planned to send two cars to the event and we’re very keen to take a look at Ott’s speed on asphalt,” said Wilson.

Latvala’s Fiesta will carry the traditional Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team colour scheme on the event, while Tanak’s car will appear in white, albeit with the additional of Ford’s blue oval logo.

Rallye du Var covers a competitive distance of 232.52 kilometres over 12 special stages. Based in the coastal town of Saint-Maxime, the event gets underway at 13:00hrs local time on Friday with the finish due at 11:35hrs on Sunday (27 November).