Tänak hit a snowbank on the special stage but eventually managed to continue. Soon after, he had to stop his Hyundai on the side of the road.
Adrien Fourmaux, who started the stage after Tänak, nearly collided with Tänak’s car in his Ford, which suddenly appeared in front of him after a bend. Following the French driver’s incident, other competitors were warned about the location.
Lappi, who is in second place at the Rally Sweden, finished the special stage ten seconds behind Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta. Lappi had a natural explanation for this.
“Part of it was because I didn’t know exactly where Ott had made his mistake. I was firstly anticipating that bend, and when I came to his position, I reduced my speed a lot. It was a fifth-gear bend, but I drove it in third gear to make sure nothing happened,” Lappi explained.
At the same time, Lappi made a request to the jury.
“I think I should receive a time compensation. FIA has said that if there has been an accident, you must ensure that everyone is okay and not take any risks. I clearly dropped my speed, so I wouldn’t do anything foolish. I deserve time compensation,” Lappi said.
Toyota driver Katsuta leads the rally by 11.4 seconds over Lappi, but a possible time compensation would bring Lappi closer to the Japanese.
Weight on his shoulders
The championship leader Thierry Neuville has suffered on Friday from being the first to start in the snowfall. Lappi’s team-mate is currently fifth in the competition, 40 seconds behind the leader.
Practically, Hyundai’s hopes for success are now on Lappi’s shoulders.
“Do my shoulders seem lower because I got more weight, having to carry the team?” Lappi joked.
According to Lappi, the car was not exactly to his liking during the first run of the special stages, but the situation should be better for the afternoon loop.
“The times have been quite okay, but there is also time left when the driving does not come easily. It doesn’t feel terrible, but we still haven’t got the car the way I would like. Driving does not come naturally, and I have to do too much work and pull the handbrake too much.”
“The car might be quite okay for the second loop because we drove in second loop conditions in the tests,” Lappi said.
