Rally Sweden – Esapekka Lappi surprise winner, remarkable podium for Adrien Fourmaux

Ranking Rally of Sweden 2024:

Drivers Championship:

Manufacturers' Championship:

• His patience was rewarded. Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) had to wait… almost 6 years before achieving a second success in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Finn, winner at home in 2017 with Toyota, added another victory to his record this Sunday February 18 by winning the 2024 Rally Sweden.
• Comfortably in the lead since Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) went off the track on Saturday morning, Esapekka Lappi (who has a partial program in 2024) managed his lead without flinching. The ideal weather conditions at the end of the event also helped him.
• Elfyn Evans (Toyota) finished 2nd. The Welshman, in difficulty at Monte-Carlo, carried out the best operation among the title contenders. Not only did he score the points for 2nd place, but also the 7 points reserved for the best performer in the Sunday specials, as well as the 4 points for the time recorded in the Power Stage! It's a great day for him.
• The French Adrien fourmaux and Alexandre Coria (M-Sport Ford) are also happy. They achieved their best career performance, with a very first podium in WRC ! Despite their absence in 2023, and therefore less experience than rivals at Toyota or Hyundai, the French duo has not made any missteps, unlike favorites like Ott Tänak (Hyundai) and Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota). Definitely a major result in their career!
• Handicapped by his role as opener and sweeper during the first stage, Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) limited the damage by moving up to 4th place this Sunday. The Belgian is doing well, he was 14th on Friday evening with a penalty and engine problems!
• In WRC2, Oliver Solberg (Skoda) produced an exceptional performance. The Swede was the first driver in the category to appear on the provisional podium of a stage since… his father Petter Solberg in Wales in 2019! This 3rd place, which he occupied on Friday evening thanks to snowfall, logically did not last with the return of the sun. However, he finished as the winner of WRC2, ahead of Sami Pajari (Toyota), who brought the Japanese manufacturer its first podium in WRC2.
• The next WRC event will be the Kenya Safari Rally, scheduled for March 28-31.

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