Esapekka Lappi, one of the prominent names in the World Rally Championship (WRC), has officially announced his retirement from professional racing. The announcement comes ahead of the final round of the Finnish Rally Championship this weekend in Porvoo.
“As you may have heard, my professional rally career is coming to an end this season,” Lappi said in a statement. “Never say never, but after many years behind the wheel it’s time to focus on my family and life outside of rallying. But first, the Last Dance: final round of the Finnish Rally Championship in Porvoo. See you there!”
Lappi ends his career with an impressive record: 95 WRC starts, two victories, and 15 podiums. This season, he competed in five WRC rounds with Hyundai Motorsport while defending his Finnish Rally Championship title. Alongside co-driver Enni Malkonen, he drove a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, finishing sixth in Sweden, fourth at Safari Rally Kenya, and sixth in Chile. His appearance in South America marked his final WRC outing.
The retirement decision may not come as a surprise to some observers. In several post-stage interviews at Rally Chile, Lappi struggled to explain his lack of pace. However, he remained strong in the national championship. Lappi and Malkonen have already secured their second consecutive Finnish title with one round remaining, winning every stage of August’s Kitee Rally in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Lappi’s journey began in 2007, with his WRC debut in 2011. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he swept all seven rounds of the Finnish championship. He went on to win the European Rally Championship in 2014 and the WRC2 title in 2016, earning a factory drive with Toyota in 2017. In his debut season with Toyota, he immediately made his mark by winning Rally Finland in only his fourth WRC event. He finished a career-best fifth in the 2018 drivers’ championship before spells with Citroen and M-Sport Ford.
After returning to Toyota for selected events in 2021 and a full programme in 2022, Lappi joined Hyundai for the 2023 season. His second WRC victory came at Rally Sweden in 2024, more than six years after his first win, giving Hyundai its first victory. Across nine seasons at the top level, Lappi represented four manufacturers and recorded 77 stage wins. Most came alongside long-time co-driver Janne Ferm, before Malkonen joined him for the latest chapter of his career.
With Lappi’s retirement, the rally world loses one of its most determined competitors. His legacy will be remembered, especially his dramatic wins in Finland and Sweden. Enjoy your retirement, Esapekka!
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