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10 years ago, Ott Tänak’s car sank – What happened next was unbelievable
Ott Tänak’s 2015 Rally México turned into a rescue mission when his Ford Fiesta RS WRC rolled into a lake. What happened next became one of the most incredible comeback stories in WRC history.
01
The Plunge
Just 2.6km into Friday’s opening Los Mexicanos stage, Tänak’s Fiesta speared off the road, tumbling down a bank before plunging into a five-metre-deep lake. The car vanished beneath the water in seconds.
Hayden Paddon, running behind Tänak, reached the stage end without spotting the stricken Fiesta. With no sign of the crew, rally officials dispatched a rapid intervention vehicle. Relief flooded through the service park when confirmation arrived: Tänak and co-driver Raigo Mölder had escaped unscathed. But their car? That was a different story.
Tänak and Mölder rolled their Fiesta into a lake
© WRC
02
The recovery
Airlifted back to service for routine checks, Tänak and Mölder watched as their Fiesta lay submerged. Meanwhile, Mölder began painstakingly drying his pace notes — page by page.
Seven hours after the incident, recovery crews closed the stage and fished the battered Ford from the depths. The waterlogged wreck was loaded onto a truck and hauled back to the service park. That’s when the real miracle began.
The car spent several hours submerged underwater
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03
Against the clock
Despite the extensive damage, M-Sport Ford’s mechanics weren’t ready to give up. If they could repair the car within three hours, Tänak could restart on Saturday. It was a near-impossible task — but they were ready to try.
The team sprang into action, stripping the Fiesta down to its bare bones within 25 minutes. Cockpit water was drained, electronics were inspected, and even the engine block needed urgent attention.
With two hours left, reassembly began. Almost every component — bar the seats, belts, bonnet, and toolkit — was replaced. With 60 minutes to go, the technicians cranked the engine to build oil pressure. Then, in a moment of magic, the Fiesta roared back to life with 25 minutes to spare.
A few final checks, a quick polish, and Tänak and Mölder were ready to return.
All hands on deck: The rebuild begins
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04
More drama
Saturday morning brought fresh trouble. As Tänak went to collect the car from parc fermé, the engine kept cutting out. Pushed back into service, the team swiftly replaced the coils and spark plugs.
But the Fiesta still wasn’t in the clear. At refuel, the engine cut out again. Tänak was deemed over the time limit (OTL) and forced to retire.
Undeterred, M-Sport’s mechanics launched another full-scale repair. They replaced the oil and fuel pressure sensors, engine loom, and ECU. Finally, the car was ready for one last charge.
The following day brought more drama
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05
TiTänak rises
On Sunday, Tänak rejoined — now running 22nd overall, almost two hours adrift of the leaders. The dream of a strong result was long gone, but finishing became the mission.
And finish he did.
Wearing a pair of diving goggles for the occasion, Tänak and Mölder drove onto the finish ramp, celebrating one of the most extraordinary rally recoveries of all time.
The car may have sunk, but Tänak’s determination — and M-Sport’s relentless spirit - kept it afloat.
TiTänak rises
© WRC
