Esapekka Lappi says that Wales Rally GB provides an “iconic test” – as the Finn arrives for the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship on great form and eager to improve on his career-best third place event finish he scored last year.
Co-driven by Janne Ferm, Lappi won the WRC 2 class on his first appearance in Wales in 2016 and scored two stage wins on his way to the overall podium last year. It is hardly surprising that he comes into this year’s event with a genuine hope of a strong result, especially as he has reached a high level of confidence in the C3 WRC on gravel, confirmed by Lappi’s excellent performances in Finland and Turkey. Although his eighth position in the running order may not be ideal if it rains, Lappi remains determined to keep up his current good form.
“This rally is an iconic test,” says Lappi. “You’ve got it all, stages in the dark, fog, rain and wind – it’s always a serious challenge. You need guts too, because the stages are pretty fast and flowing. One of the key things will undoubtedly be having a car that isn't too sensitive to the changes in grip, because they are non-stop. We worked well in testing, even though the roads were dry. Given our position in the running order, rain would clearly be something of a disadvantage. Having said that, in Turkey I had a good feeling with my C3 WRC when it started raining on Friday’s long stage.”
Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm wear Stilo WRC DES Zero 8860 helmets.
