Esapekka Lappi says he is not afraid by his unsure World Rally Championship future as Hyundai continues to judge its driver choices for its third automotive subsequent 12 months.
The 2-time WRC rally winner confirmed that his future is but to be decided with final weekend’s Rally Chile set to be his ultimate occasion of the 12 months with the Korean marque.
Final season, Lappi contested a full-time season with Hyundai earlier than shifting to a part-time programme, sharing the third automotive with Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo this season.
Hyundai has confirmed that Thierry Neuville and Ott Tanak will proceed in a full-time capability subsequent 12 months, however its plans for its third automotive are but to be introduced. Workforce principal Cyril Abiteboul has beforehand said that crew is exploring situations for its third automotive. M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has been linked with a transfer to Hyundai.
Lappi has endured a season of highs and lows, claiming a second profession win in Sweden, however has since scored 14 factors from his appearances in Kenya, Latvia (DNF), Finland and Chile (DNF).
The 33-year-old admitted earlier than the beginning of Rally Chile that he has had discussions with the crew relating to his future and can be eager for one more part-time season.
“If I might select, I might do the same programme to this 12 months and perhaps do a few occasions extra,” mentioned Lappi.
“This three-month break after Kenya was an excessive amount of. If we might do the same programme with higher planning and higher testing and with out lengthy breaks then yeah I feel that might be very nice.
Esapekka Lappi, Hyundai World Rally Workforce
Photograph by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
“We have now talked about it however nothing is determined and even when they [the team] nonetheless maintain doing the shared third automotive it doesn’t suggest that routinely I will probably be there however nonetheless I am not afraid. I do know if this stops then my life will probably be superb.”
Lappi struggled to extract velocity from his i20 N in Chile earlier than in the end retiring from the occasion whereas occupying eighth place after damaging the entrance of his automotive within the penultimate stage.
“It was robust and I did not plan for it to go like this. I wished to be a bit quicker this weekend. I did not count on to be within the high 5 however someplace in between,” he added.
“On Sunday the duty was to assault to be in between the Toyotas and blend up the factors however I did not have the velocity. I actually attacked the penultimate stage the place I misplaced the bumper however in the long run we have been additionally fairly ineffective, so not a lot positives from the weekend.”
Lappi’s co-driver publicizes WRC retirement in Chile
Ought to Lappi proceed within the WRC subsequent 12 months, he’ll achieve this with a brand new co-driver after Janne Ferm introduced his retirement from the championship in Chile.
Ferm has navigated for Lappi’s complete 90 WRC occasion profession with the partnership starting at Rally Finland in 2011. Since then the duo have scored wins in Finland, 2017 and Sweden this 12 months in addition to the 2016 WRC2 title.
“I must thank Janne for 15 seasons collectively. We have been each rookies after we began and we climbed up the hill to be professionals collectively, and now this journey involves an finish,” mentioned Lappi.
Esapekka Lappi, Janne Ferm, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“I am positive we nonetheless sit collectively in a rally automotive, however not professionally. He has been the loudest laugher of the crew – you won’t see him, however you may hear him from very far-off. We’ll miss his jokes and sense of humour.”
Ferm had deliberate to retire from WRC competitors on the finish of final season earlier than Lappi satisfied the 44-year-old to proceed for this 12 months’s part-time marketing campaign.
“It was already final 12 months [I thought about it] however then Esapekka requested if it was okay if we did a part-time season. However now it’s time to transfer away,” mentioned Ferm.
“I really like the game and I really like the folks round it. For the time being I’ve no plans I’ll relax for the second after which we’ll see.
“There was loads of key moments in my profession, for positive everyone seems to be saying 2017 Rally Finland, however I’ve to say after I met Esapekka for the primary time. After that we now have been in a wedding for 15 years. The wedding just isn’t ending however we live individually,” he joked.
