Factory WRC driver Esapekka Lappi to pause professional rallying career

Two-time WRC rally champion Esapekka Lappi has announced his plans to take a break from professional rallying for the time being. During a press conference ahead of the final round of the Finnish Rally Championship, Lappi revealed his decision to pause his career. The 35-year-old stated that he might still compete in individual events in the future, but his professional rallying career will be on indefinite hold.

"I won't say never again, because I've said that many times," Lappi told reporters. "But for now, I'm taking a break until I say otherwise. At present, the plan is not to continue in the Finnish Rally Championship or any other series."

Lappi made his WRC debut in 2011 and has since become a two-time WRC rally winner and 15-time podium finisher. He stepped up to the top tier of rallying in 2017 with Toyota and claimed one of two career WRC wins at Rally Finland. Lappi then moved to Citroen for the 2019 season, but a challenging campaign yielded only three second-place finishes.

After a brief stint with M-Sport-Ford during the 2020 Covid-19 shortened season, Lappi returned to WRC2 in 2021 and rejoined Toyota for a part-time campaign in 2022. He then returned to full-time competition with Hyundai in 2023, including a victory at Rally Sweden. Lappi moved to a part-time role with Hyundai again in 2024 and will continue to mentor teenage driver Lauri Halonen.