Esapekka Lappi is a factory driver for Hyundai Motorsport in 2023.
Esapekka Lappi is the 2012 Finnish Rally Champion and the youngest winner of Arctic Lapland Rally. Just a year after becoming an EVEN Management athlete, Esapekka became a professional rally driver when he signed a contract with ŠKODA Motorsport to compete in the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship. The multi-year deal also included selected rounds of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, as well as the opportunity to gain more FIA World Rally Championship experience.
Esapekka became FIA European Rally Champion in 2014, after another fantastic season in the factory ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000.
In 2015 Lappi continued his successful partnership with Skoda Motorsport, and competed in the WRC2 with the brand new Skoda Fabia R5, along with the continuation of the development work with the car. He contested 8 rallies in total, took 4 podiums and together with co-driver Janne Ferm, he celebrated victory at both Rally Poland and Rally Finland.
The Skoda Motorsport success story continued for 2016, when the Finnish duo nailed the 2016 WRC2 championship at the final round in Australia. In the Skoda Fabia R5 Lappi and Ferm wrapped up four wins (Finland, Germany, Wales and Australia) and two 3rds in the 2016 WRC2.
In 2017 a new chapter begin for our Finnish crew as they took a step up to the WRC. Lappi and Ferm were signed with Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC and set to compete in the WRC with the brand new Toyota Yaris WRC. The highlight of the season came with their overall victory at Rally Finland. In their first year in the FIA World Rally Championship, they managed to secure their maiden win at their home event.
2018 was another strong season by Lappi and Ferm. 3 podiums in total, and also 3 Power Stage wins, saw them secure 5thin the Driver’s Standings, while their team Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed the manufacturer title.
In 2019 the Finnish duo started a new chapter in their WRC-adventure and moved to Citroën Racing. Alongside world champion Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, they competed in a Citroën C3 WRC. The new contract was planned for two seasons, but at the end of 2019 Citroën decided to pull out of the WRC after a challenging season. Lappi and Ferm claimed 3 podiums during the season and ended with 83 points in the Drivers Standings.
A new team and a new car for Esapekka and Janne in 2020, as they joined the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team. Due to the global pandemic the team managed less testing and also the calendar were altered. They claimed 4th at Rallye Monte-Carlo and 4th at Rally Monza as their best result of the year. Esapekka ended 6th in the championship standings.
For 2021 Esapekka and Janne competed at two WRC-events in a Volkswagen Polo R5, with victory at both Arctic Rally Finland and Rally Portugal. Towards the end of the season it become clear that the duo would be again joining forces with Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT for the 2022 season. As a warm-up, they drove a Toyota Yaris WRC for Secto Rally Finland in the autumn, ending 4th in the overall classification.
Achievements
2010: 3rd in Finnish Rally Championship (FIA R2-category)
2011: Class winner Rally Finland (FIA R2-category) and Winner of Best Finnish Rookie Award
2012: Finnish Rally Champion and won all championship rallies. Winner of Arctic Lapland Rally (youngest winner in history). Won Rally Poland
2013: Winner of Rally Portugal (WRC2). Winner of Rallye International du Valais (ERC) and 2nd in Rallye Sanremo (ERC). Runner up APRC.
2014: FIA European Rally Champion (ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000)
2015: 4 WRC2 podiums, winner of Rally Poland and Rally Finland, 43 stage wins. 4th in the FIA WRC2 standings.
2016: Winner of the 2016 FIA WRC2 championship, 4 WRC2 wins, 6 podiums.
2017: Competed 8 events in the FIA World Rally Championship, winner of Rally Finland.
2018: Competed full season with Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Rally Champions. 5thin the Driver’s standings, 3 podiums in total and 3 Power Stage wins.
2019: Competed full season with Citroën Total WRT in the FIA World Rally Championship. 3 podiums; 2ndSweden, 2nd Finland, 2nd Turkey.
2020: Competed full season with M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in the FIA World Rally Championship. 4that Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Monza, 6th in the overall standings.
2021: Winner WRC2 class at Arctic Rally Finland and Rally Portugal. 4th O/A at Secto Rally Finland in a Toyota Yaris WRC.
