In an official communication, ൩the Alzenau-based squad said it “respects 🤪the drivers’ request” to exercise the option that allows him to conclude his contract prematurely.

Last May, Tanak put pen to paper on a new “multi-year” deal but, in recent months, the Estonian has appeared at odds with team-mate Thierry Neuville and Deputy Team Director Julien Moncet who labelled the decision “disappoin♕ting”.

Since joining Hyundai from Toyota Gazoo Racing at the end of 2019, Tanak has💝 ch♒alked up five wins, 15 podiums and 101 stage wins.

Speaking earlier this afternoon at the Rally Spain post-event press conference, Neuville said he would prefer Tanak to stay because he brings out the best inꦰ him. However, the Belgian is not going to get his wish.

“I would like to announce that I have decided to end our contractual agreement with Hyundai Motorsport and leave the team at the end of the curr𒊎ent WRC season,” said T💜anak, whose final appearance in an I20 N Rally1 car will come on next month’s Rally Japan.

“This is a personal decision and one that I have taken with careful consideration and respect for the team. However, I feel that I am at a stage of my car♔eer where I need to e♏mbark on a new challenge.

“We have had a good partnership over the past three seasons, and I am proud of what we have achieved. We have worked hard together to overcome some꧅ difficult moments, and as we’ve shown this year we have moved in the right direction.

“The second part of this season has shown the performa🦩nce level we can achieve when things click, but for me the time has come for something new. I thank the team for its understanding and wish them all well,” he added.

Tanak is the second driver to leave Hyundai following the team’s recent decision not to𒅌 extend the contract of Oliver Solberg. Question marks also surround the future of World Rally Championship veteran Dani Sordo who has played even less of a role this year compared to previous𒁏 seasons.

Moncet said Tanak’s decision was one “we must accept ꦜand respect”,✱ adding: “He is without doubt one of world rally’s finest drivers, as we have been fortunate to experience first-hand through the victories that we have achieved together over three seasons.

“It’s been a bit of a rolle𓆏rcoaster. Our first year working together was affected by th𝓰e pandemic; this year we have faced a new raft of hybrid regulations which have certainly been challenging.

“Ott has shown real leadership to push himself and the te♛am to find improvements and to return to winning ways. Recently, we have built some positive momentum with our Hyundai i20 N Rally1.”

With one full-time seat now u🥃p for grabs, Moncet said attention now switches to finding a suitable candidate to fill it. “We will miss him but it’s also an opportunity for us to regroup and rebuild,” said the Frenchm🧸an.

“We were already giving serious thought to our crew composition for 2023 so this decision, while not be🦂ing one that we wanted, opens different possibilities for us as we prepare for next season. We wish Ott and Martin the very best for their🅷 future.”