Factory WRC Driver Esapekka Lappi Pauses Professional Rallying Career

Factory World Rally Championship driver Esapekka Lappi has announced plans to indefinitely pause his professional rallying career. The 35-year-old Finnish driver revealed the decision during a Skoda Finland press conference prior to the Porvoon Autopalvelu Ralli, the final round of the Finnish Rally Championship. Lappi stated that while he may contest individual events in the future, his professional career will take an extended break.

Lappi made his WRC debut in 2011 and established his reputation by winning the 2016 WRC2 title with Skoda Motorsport. He stepped up to WRC's top class in 2017 with Toyota, taking his maiden top-tier victory on home soil at Rally Finland. Over his career, the two-time WRC event winner and 15-time podium finisher has driven for several major manufacturers, including Citroen, M-Sport-Ford, Toyota, and most recently Hyundai, where he claimed a victory at Rally Sweden in 2023.

Reflecting on his decision, Lappi noted that rallying provided a unique rush of adrenaline but required significant sacrifices from his family. While stepping away from active competition, the driver—who recently won Finnish Rally Championship titles alongside co-driver Enni Malkonen—will not leave the sport entirely, as he plans to continue mentoring teenage driver Lauri Halonen as part of Skoda Motorsport Finland's development programme.