Ferm and Esapekka Lappi’s partnership began in 2010, and together they climbed to the top of the WRC, securing two rally wins.
Their journey came to an end on Sunday when Ferm announced his retirement after the event. Lappi and Ferm’s final WRC rally ended in retirement.
“This has not been our weekend. Today was much more challenging in terms of conditions with the overnight rain and low cloud affecting visibility. There was some light at the end of the tunnel but our task was to attack today and try to mix up the points, but we failed to do that,” Lappi reflected.
Afterward, Lappi expressed his gratitude to Ferm for their journey together.
“We were both rookies when we started and we climbed up the hill to be professionals together, and now this journey comes to an end. I’m sure we still sit together in a rally car, but not professionally.”
“He has been the loudest laugher of the team – you might not see him, but you can hear him from very far away. We will miss his jokes and sense of humour,” Lappi added.
Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul also had kind words for Ferm.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Janne on a fantastic career in rallying, and wish him all the best in his ‘retirement’. He is a character like no other and he will be dearly missed by everyone in the team,” Abiteboul said.
Read also: Did Janne Ferm’s retirement reveal a key detail about Esapekka Lappi’s future?
