{
  "id": 2400259,
  "title": "Ott Tanak to make ARA debut on WRC fact finding mission",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/ott-tanak-to-make-ara-debut-on-wrc-fact-finding-mission",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T16:04:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/ott-tanak-to-make-ara-debut-on-wrc-fact-finding-mission/10847974/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ott Tanak will make his debut with the American Rally Association (ARA) at the Overmountain Rally Tennessee, set to take place on September 18-19. Tanak, the 2019 world rally champion, will be piloting a factory-supported Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 alongside co-drivers Seth Quintero and Topi Luhtinen.\n\nThis ARA appearance marks Tanak's latest venture with Toyota, which recently shifted him to a test and development role following his departure from the Hyundai WRC team at the conclusion of 2025. During his time at Toyota, Tanak has been actively involved in developing the brand's upcoming 2027 WRC car, focusing on the technical regulations changes set to take effect next year.\n\nToyota deployed Tanak to Rally di Roma Capitale in Italy last month for non-competitive testing, aiming to gather data for a potential WRC event in Rome in 2027. The primary objective of Tanak's upcoming ARA outing is to collect valuable information on local gravel roads in Tennessee, a region under consideration for a future WRC event in the United States.\n\nThe ARA National Championship round at Overmountain Rally Tennessee is part of Toyota's ongoing testing efforts to gain insights into the specific challenges posed by the local gravel roads. Tanak's participation in the ARA championship underscores Toyota's commitment to honing their performance and preparation for the evolving WRC landscape.",
  "summary": "Ott Tanak is set to make a maiden appearance in the American Rally Association National Championship with an outing at Overmountain Rally Tennessee later this month. The 2019 world rally champion and fellow title winning co-driver Martin Jarveoja will pilot a factory-backed Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 car at the gravel rally on 18-19 September, alongside ARA regulars Seth Quintero and Topi ...…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ott Tanak debuts with ARA at Overmountain Rally Tennessee on September 18-19.",
    "Tanak pilots Toyota GR Corolla Rally RC2 with co-drivers Seth Quintero and Topi Luhtinen.",
    "Mission focuses on collecting data for potential WRC event in Rome 2027."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}