Esapekka Lappi has declared a pause in his professional rallying career, with the 35‑year‑old Finnish star confirming he will step away from the sport for the time being.
Career Snapshot
Lappi burst onto the rally scene in 2011 at Rally Finland, racing a Citroën C2 R2 Max. By 2016 he had captured the WRC2 title with Skoda Motorsport and claimed his first WRC win the following year, triumphing at home in Finland. Subsequent seasons saw him spill podiums for Toyota, finish fifth overall in 2018, and score back‑to‑back finishes with Sebastien Ogier at Citroën in 2019. After a brief stint with M‑Sport‑Ford during the shortened 2020 season, Lappi returned to WRC2 in 2021 before rejoining Toyota for a part‑time campaign in 2022. 2023 marked a full‑time shift to Hyundai, highlighted by a victory at Rally Sweden, while 2024’s role has been part‑time with Hyundai’s third i20 N Rally1, covering five events.
Reason for Pause
Speaking at a Skoda‑Finland press conference ahead of the Porvoon Autopalvelu Ralli, Lappi admitted the drive to guard his family’s well‑being is now a priority. He explained that though racing has delivered massive adrenaline, it has also taken a toll on personal time. “I need a new source of that rush,” he said, noting he will not seek illicit alternatives but will chase new ventures.
Future Involvement
Lappi is not departing rallying entirely. He will continue to mentor Lauri Halonen, the teenage talent within Skoda Motorsport Finland’s development programme, and will keep a close eye on any individual events that may arise. “I won’t say never again,” he added, ending on the possibility that future opportunities might invite a return.
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