This year’s Safari Rally is held in its traditional slot during the rainy season, presenting teams and drivers with a massive challenge. Conditions can be extremely tough.
Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi and his co-driver Janne Ferm are heading to Kenya with high confidence, coming off their second WRC victory in Sweden.
Despite the daunting conditions, Ferm is looking forward to Kenya, perhaps even because of them.
“That’s actually why you look forward to it. It’s exactly why all the enthusiasts who roam around here love rally,” Ferm told RallyJournal.com.
“It’s all about adapting, and the situation is never the same as in circuit racing. Even in Sweden, we noticed that when it started snowing, it affected everyone in different ways. You can’t predict what will happen in Kenya, but that’s precisely why we love this sport,” Ferm continued.
The Safari Rally is challenging even in dry conditions, but torrential rains could increase the difficulty level significantly.
“It’s going to be challenging. But then, it’s the same for everyone,” Ferm stated.
Lappi and Ferm are competing in only selected events this season. They started their campaign in Sweden in February and are now heading to Kenya. What can you tell us about the upcoming schedule for the season?
“I don’t really know myself yet,” Ferm replied.
“It’s entirely up to Hyundai. They currently have several people in the lineup that they’re rotating. We’ll go wherever we’re asked to and do the best we can,” Ferm outlined.
Part-time participation suits both Lappi and Ferm perfectly, allowing more time for family.
“I’ve seen this as a big positive. I think it suits both of us perfectly,” Ferm said.
“Free time goes by very well with two children. Those problems have gone away. There’s always something small to do,” Ferm said.
Although there’s no certainty about the upcoming schedule, preparing for rallies is easy for Ferm.
“At this age, you’ve found a certain template for how to prepare each time. When a rally comes up, you prepare in the same way as before. Now there’s more time to prepare, but the template remains the same. It hasn’t changed much,” Ferm shared.
