Lappi set the fastest time on the final stage in Umeå. In the overall standings, Lappi’s lead is 3.2 seconds ahead of Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta.
“We need to take the confidence from today and start to concentrate for the rest of the rally. For sure I used the road position advantage clearly in the afternoon. In the morning as well but I also wasn’t too slow against Kalle in the beginning, so I’m fairly satisfied with that,” Lappi summarised.
“I didn’t take unnecessary risks, but still, the times were good. The gaps are so big behind that there’s no point in pushing too hard. It’s a good position to continue from,” he continued.
Lappi is chasing his second career victory, while a first-place finish would be Katsuta’s first.
“I tried but a bit too much, making mistakes, overshoot a bit. But still two days to go. I’ll keep pushing,” Katsuta vowed.
Oliver Solberg, driving a Skoda Rally2 car, is in third place in the rally. Conditions, especially on Friday afternoon’s loop, were really challenging, so Solberg gained an advantage by driving behind the Rally1 cars. He is a minute and 20 seconds behind the overall lead, but he leads his class by 29,4 seconds ahead of Toyota’s Georg Linnamäe.
“I pushed, but it wasn’t a clean stage. It’s pretty amazing to be third in a Rally2 car. This is beyond expectations. However, the main goal is to win my class, and the situation there is good,” Solberg reported.
Between Solberg and Linnamäe in the overall standings are WRC drivers Adrien Fourmaux and Elfyn Evans.
Rally Sweden continues on Saturday with seven special stages. The competition concludes on Sunday.
Rally Sweden standings after SS8/18:
1. Esapekka Lappi Hyundai 58:18.8 2. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota +3.2 3. Oliver Solberg Skoda +1:20.7 4. Adrien Fourmaux Ford +1.26.3 5. Elfyn Evans Toyota +1:50.0 6. Georg Linnamäe Toyota +1:50.1 7. Sami Pajari Toyota +2:05.8 8. Roope Korhonen Toyota +2:08.6 9. Mikko Heikkilä Toyota +2:19.0 10. Lauri Joona Skoda +2:45.7 11. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +2:46.0 12. Nikolay Gryazin Citroen +3:09.1
Itinerary (CET)
Thursday, February 15th 09:01 Shakedown: Håkmark (5.42 km) 19:05 SS1: Umeå Sprint 1 (5.16 km) Friday, February 16th 08:58 SS2: #42 Brattby 1 (10.76 km) 09:52 SS3: Norrby 1 (12.36 km) 10:55 SS4: Floda 1 (28.25 km) 13:28 Service (30 min) 14:36 SS5: #42 Brattby 2 (10.76 km) 15:30 SS6: Norrby 2 (12.36 km) 16:33 SS7: Floda 2 (28.25 km) 19:05 SS8: Umeå Sprint 2 (5.16 km) Saturday, February 17th 07:45 SS9: Vännäs 1 (15.65 km) 08:35 SS10: Sarsjöliden 1 (14.23 km) 10:08 SS11: Bygdsiljum 1 (28.06 km) 13:00 Service (30 min) 14:15 SS12: Vännäs 2 (15.65 km) 15:05 SS13: Sarsjöliden 2 (14.23 km) 16:38 SS14: Bygdsiljum 2 (28.06 km) 19:05 SS15: Umeå 1 (10.08 km) Sunday, February 18th 07:27 SS16: Västervik 1 (25.50 km) 09:06 Service (15 min) 10:03 SS17: Västervik 2 (25.50 km) 12:15 SS18: Umeå 2 (10.08 km) *Power Stage
