Lappi didn’t have high expectations for the event in terms of results, as his task is to drive cautiously and collect manufacturer points for Hyundai in the WRC standings if needed. Hyundai holds a solid lead in the manufacturers’ championship, which they could only lose with significant mistakes in the remaining rounds of the season.
Lappi was unable to match the pace of the leaders in the early stages of the gravel rally in Chile, falling 18.3 seconds behind the top spot. He had little positive to report when he reached the midday service.
“I was slow, too slow. I’ve been trying, but it’s very difficult to build confidence when you have slippery corners everywhere,” Lappi lamented.
“Even when you’re not really pushing, you still get some slides. I don’t know what to do at the moment. My skills are gone.”
Lappi ran wide in one corner during the morning but got away with just a scare.
“It feels like the front and rear axles are completely disconnected. The rear end just won’t stay with me. Even when driving really slowly, it feels like I’m going off,” Lappi said.
Toyota currently holds the top three positions in the rally after three stages, with Elfyn Evans leading ahead of Kalle Rovanperä and Sami Pajari. Among the Hyundai drivers, Ott Tänak is in fifth, Thierry Neuville in seventh, and Lappi in eighth.
Three more stages will be run on Friday in Chile after the midday service.
