Lappi will participate in only a selection of the WRC rallies this year, driving Hyundai’s Rally1 car. He wanted to reduce his rally commitments this year to spend more time with his family.
This year, Lappi will be sharing Hyundai’s third car with Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo. Lappi is pegged for roles in fast snow and gravel EVENTS, Mikkelsen for tarmac rallies, and Sordo for slower gravel competitions.
Mikkelsen kicked off his season last weekend at Rally Monte Carlo. Meanwhile, Lappi’s season opener will be in just over two weeks at the Swedish winter rally.
It now appears Lappi will also be in action at the third round, the iconic Safari Rally in Kenya at the end of March. Previously, this rally was assumed to be part of Sordo’s programme, but the Spanish veteran disclosed last weekend during his visit to Rally Monte Carlo that his season would only start in May in Portugal.
Mikkelsen, who finished sixth in Monte Carlo, confirmed after the race that his next competition would be Croatia Rally at the end of April. Thus, Lappi is the only option for Hyundai’s third car in the iconic Safari Rally at Easter.
Sordo is expected to drive in a maximum of three gravel races this year, while Mikkelsen’s schedule includes four tarmac races. This means that Lappi is shaping up to have a six-rally programme.
Besides the Swedish and Kenyan rounds, Lappi’s calendar is likely to include rallies in Poland, Latvia, Finland and Chile.
Lappi has told RallyJournal.com that he already has a provisional calendar.
“It can still change for many reasons. The plan is flexible. Let’s just say that I have a minimum number of rallies in my contract, and there’s also a maximum number. We’ll have to see how things go depending on the situation,” said Lappi.
Rally Sweden will take place from 15th to 18th February around Umeå.
