Esapekka Lappi reconnects

In Umeå, the new nerve center of the Swedish rally (February 24-27), Esapekka Lappi will resume the thread of his career with a different state of mind, but also ambitions. The Finn wants to forget the pressure and have fun within a Toyota team where he could play a more important role than expected.

Published on 18/02/2022 à 09:00

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Esapekka Lappi

It was one of the striking images of the 2020 season when at the stopping point of the 8th Mexican special, the Ford Fiesta of Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm began to catch fire at the diffuser. The Finn had hastened to leave, but with the fire gaining ground behind him, he had no other choice but to stop on the side of the road, to run and get to where he was. shelter and see its WRC burn up completely. The next day, at the end of the 2nd stage, the event was interrupted. Faced with the advance of Covid, the world had started to lock down and the entire caravan had to be allowed to return home.

Lappi, like all the actors, only returned to the special stages 6 months later in Estonia (September 4-6, 2020). Did this impromptu break play a role in Esapekka's decision to give up his steering wheel at the end of the season? It's entirely possible. Finally 6th in the championship with two modest 4th places (at Monte-Carlo and at Monza) as best result, Lappi ended this strange year in an unusual way.