Lappi’s first year with Hyundai’s Rally1 car was mixed. In the spring and early summer, the Finnish driver claimed four podium finishes from five events, but the latter part of the season went worse for him. The Finn crashed in Finland, Chile, and Central Europe, but managed a fourth place at the season-ending Rally Japan.
Next year, Lappi will only participate in a portion of the WRC events. He will share driving duties with Hyundai’s third i20 N Rally1 car with Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo. According to the team, Lappi is set for fast gravel and snow rallies, meaning the Lappi will likely be seen in action at least in the Sweden, Latvia, Poland, and Finland.
Lappi himself requested from the team that he only drive in a part of the events next year. It became clear to him during the past season that he was not ready to lead the team.
“For sure part of me is really competitive, but on the other hand my season was 50/50, I was doing good job at times – middle season was really promising and good, beginning of the season was a bit of a learning, and end of the season really bad.” Lappi admitted to Dirtfish.
“But I was not also deserving to be the number one driver, I made so many mistakes that it was not deserved.”
This year, Hyundai’s star was once again Thierry Neuville. Next year, Lappi’s task is to provide support to two big names – Neuville and Ott Tänak, who is making a return to the Hyundais wheel.
Lappi believes that a lighter competition schedule will help him achieve better results.
“Always professionally you have a lot of pressure. But personally yeah as well. The kids are missing me a lot, and that’s a problem. I mean, I want to be there for them.” Lappi said.
“And that’s been stressing me a lot. I’m not saying that that’s the reason for the poor results, but for sure there is an effect.”
The 2024 WRC season kicks off in January with the Rally Monte Carlo, where Mikkelsen is set to debut with the Hyundai Rally1 car.
