Tanak sorry for Monte mistake

M-Sport's Ott Tanak says he is "sorry" for the mistake he made during Rallye Monte Carlo last weekend, but still thinks he made a positive start to WRC 2015.

Tanak, who has been given a second chance with the team this year after being dropped at the end of 2012, began well, setting the second best time in the opening test, and at the end of day two was running fourth overall in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

However, in SS10 on Saturday he slid off the road and down the side of a steep embankment. He was able to continue, helped back on by a number of spectators, but by now had lost over 18 minutes, dropping him right out of contention. He eventually finished in P18.

"I am really sorry that we had one mistake earlier in the event, but otherwise I think it has been a really positive start to my season with M-Sport," Tanak confirmed after the final test.

Speaking back in service, the Estonian added: "I don't think it has not been such a bad weekend for us. We were not pushing - just trying to drive with a reasonably good rhythm. The conditions were very tricky and the grip level changed on almost every corner so it was a proper Rallye Monte-Carlo!

"That is what makes this rally so difficult and that is why you need to have really good pacenotes and have the experience to know how the conditions are changing from one section to the next.

"I think we managed that for the most part, unfortunately we just had one moment on Saturday which lost us a lot of time. It was just one fast corner and there was some gravel on the road which we weren't expecting. There was no time to correct and we went off. I need to say a big thanks to the spectators who helped us because without them there would have been no chance of getting the car back on the road.

"We have certainly learnt a lot this weekend though. It was a really hard experience but I am sure that it will be good for our future and that we will do better next time."