Lappi clocked the fastest time on the 4.12-kilometre Ruuhimäki stage with a time of 2:15.4. His compatriot, Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä, trailed Lappi by two-tenths of a second.
“It was not too bad, I thought on the last rally that the feeling is fine so we cannot really trust that. I don´t know what the others said but it was a bit slippery,” Lappi said.
“It´s really cool to be in the home rally finally, it is the highlight of the season for sure. It is not going to be an easy one and we are missing the result from here,” Rovanperä, who donned a flame beanie and speed glasses, told.
Kolmanneksi kovimman ajan Ruuhimäessä kirjautti Toyotan Takamoto Katsuta, jonka ero kärkeen oli niukat 0,3 sekuntia. Toyotan Sebastien Ogier oli pätkän neljäs ennen Ford-kuski Adrien Fourmaux´ta ja Toyotan Elfyn Evansia.
Sami Pajari, making his debut in the Toyota Rally1 car, was ninth in the shakedown stage. He was 1.8 seconds behind Lappi’s leading time.
“This is incredible. I still need to work on making my driving cleaner and have a better flow. However, we are really enjoying it, and that’s the best part of rallying. There is a lot to learn, so it’s pointless to make too many comparisons to others,” Pajari summarised.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala is competing in the Rally Finland with his team’s Rally2 car. Latvala immediately showed speed in the shakedown, driving the Ruuhimäki stage only once. His time matched that of Oliver Solberg, who ultimately set the fastest time in the class.
Rally Finland, result of the shakedown stage:
| POS. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Esapekka Lappi | Hyundai | 2:15.4 |
| 2. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | 2:15.6 |
| 3. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | 2:15.7 |
| 4. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 2:15.8 |
| 5. | Adrien Fourmaux | Ford | 2:16.2 |
| 6. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | 2:16.4 |
| 7. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | 2:16.8 |
| 8. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | 2.:17.1 |
| 9. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | 2:17.2 |
| 10. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | 2:18.6 |
| 11. | Oliver Solberg | Skoda | 2:23.1 |
| 12. | Emil Lindholm | Hyundai | 2:24.3 |
| 13. | Nikolay Gryazin | Toyota | 2:24.4 |
| 14. | Tuukka Kauppinen | Skoda | 2:24:8 |
| 15. | Georg Linnamäe | Toyota | 2:25.2 |
| 16. | Jari-Matti Latvala | Toyota | 2:25.3 |
Rally Finland itinerary:
Thursday, 1 August 09:01 Shakedown: Ruuhimäki (4.12 km) 18:05 SS1: Harju 1 (3.48 km) Friday, 2 August 07:13 SS2: Laukaa 1 (17.96 km) 08:20 SS3: Saarikas 1 (15.93 km) 09:35 SS4: Myhinpää 1 (15.51 km) 11:05 SS5: Ruuhimäki 1 (7.76 km) 14:10 SS6: Laukaa 2 (17.96 km) 15:17 SS7: Saarikas 2 (15.93 km) 16:32 SS8: Myhinpää 2 (15.51 km) 18:05 SS9: Ruuhimäki 2 (7.76 km) 19:05 SS10: Harju 2 (3.48 km) Saturday, 3 August 08:05 SS11: Västilä 1 (18.94 km) 09:05 SS12: Päijälä 1 (20.19 km) 10:05 SS13: Ouninpohja 1 (32.98 km) 14:35 SS14: Västilä 2 (18.94 km) 15:35 SS15: Päijälä 2 (20.19 km) 16:35 SS16: Ouninpohja 2 (32.98 km) Sunday, 4 August 07:55 SS17: Sahloinen-Moksi 1 (14.27 km) 09:05 SS18: Laajavuori 1 (4.35 km) 10:17 SS19: Sahloinen-Moksi 2 (14.27 km) 12:15 SS20: Laajavuori 2 (8.77 km)
