Esapekka Lappi plans to defend his Finnish Rally title, having gained the nationwide championship for a second time.
The 2-time World Rally Championship occasion winner missed the season-opener in Kuopio and was second to a standout Tuukka Kauppinen on Arctic Lapland Rally, however gained each occasion thereafter in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Co-driven by Enni Mälkonen, the 34-year-old Finn secured his second Finnish title by 5.9 seconds on Seinajöki Ralli, having gained the championship on his manner up the rallying ladder in 2012.
Lappi’s imaginative and prescient is to defend the title in 2026.
He mentioned: “I’ve loved rallying this 12 months greater than I’ve in a few years, so we’ll work to get it over the road subsequent 12 months as properly.
“I’d positively prefer to proceed as some type of barometer for the youthful ones. Let’s see what Enni has to say concerning the plans.”
Lappi’s final WRC look was Rally Chile 2024 for Hyundai, however he’s proven zero curiosity in returning to the world championship.
Against this, Lappi’s Hyundai team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen is looking for to return to the top-flight and made his first begin of the 12 months at this weekend’s Rally Valli della Carnia in Italy.
Driving a Fabia RS Rally2, he would solely end tenth after a puncture on Friday night.
