Lappi Stays Behind the Wheel
Esapekka Lappi isn’t ready to call time on his rally career just yet. The seasoned Finnish driver, a long-time presence in the World Rally Championship (WRC), enjoyed a successful year competing in the Finnish Rally Championship — claiming five victories and securing the national title.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Lappi confirmed that he’ll continue in the Finnish series next season.
“This probably isn’t any big surprise – we’re continuing,” Lappi said with a smile.
New Car for the New Season
Lappi began his 2024 campaign driving an older Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo, but upgraded to the newer Fabia RS Rally2 before the final winter round. For 2026, he’ll once again start the year with a brand-new machine.
“The car left for Latvia yesterday, so this year’s car has been sold. A new one will arrive in January with all the latest updates,” Lappi explained.
He noted that the 2024 model was missing many of the latest parts — something that will change with the new car:
“It was basically an older version, but now we’ll have all the latest parts, so it should be faster. I won’t need to keep the throttle quite so flat myself,” the 34-year-old joked.
Factory Testing Role with Škoda Motorsport
In addition to his rally plans, Lappi confirmed a testing and development deal with Škoda Motorsport. The Finn has already been working with the Czech manufacturer on testing next-generation components.
“We’ve been doing development and durability testing in France for two days with next year’s components. This was the third or fourth test we’ve taken part in,” Lappi revealed.
“I now have a testing and development agreement with the Škoda factory.”
No Plans for a WRC Comeback
After stepping away from the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2024 season, Lappi’s name has occasionally surfaced in rumors of a potential return. However, the Finn insists he’s satisfied with his current path.
“I don’t have that same drive or desire to go back. I’ve really enjoyed this year immensely,” Lappi emphasized.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 Finnish Rally Championship season will kick off in mid-January with the opening round in Mikkeli. With a new car, a factory testing role, and a national title to defend, Esapekka Lappi’s rallying journey is far from over.
